Ishpeming Receives Certification as Redevelopment Ready Community

LANSING, Mich. – For its efforts in establishing a solid foundation to attract private investment and further build on municipal assets, the City of Ishpeming has been awarded the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced today.

The City of Ishpeming now joins a distinguished group of 94 Michigan communities from all regions of the state that have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” in their planning and zoning efforts. This designation aims to eliminate traditional barriers and foster opportunities for potential investment. For a complete list of RRCs, visit here.

“Our mission at MEDC is to support Michigan’s strong economic momentum and empower communities to establish a strong planning, zoning and economic development foundation,” said MEDC SVP of Community Planning and Development Readiness Michele Wildman. “The City of Ishpeming is well positioned to continue to implement their vision for the future and further improve the quality of life for its residents. We look forward to building upon our relationship with the City of Ishpeming and supporting local economic development efforts.”

As an RRC participant, the City of Ishpeming received a comprehensive assessment that measured current community and economic development practices compared to RRC best practice standards. Communities leverage the RRC toolkit to integrate transparency, predictability, and efficiency into local economic development practices. Certification is a compelling indicator that a community has removed development barriers and streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive for investment.

“Redevelopment Ready Communities certification is a major milestone for Ishpeming and a big part of our continued progress as a city,” said City Manager Randy Scholz. “It reflects the dedication of our staff, elected officials and community partners, and it gives us a stronger foundation to encourage investment, support redevelopment and move Ishpeming forward with confidence and momentum.”

As a certified community, the City of Ishpeming will have access to new tools to implement its community development goals as well as ongoing support and technical assistance from the RRC team. Annual check-ins and updates will help ensure the city continues implementing the best practices over time. Certification is active for five years before needing to be renewed.

“Achieving Redevelopment Ready Communities certification is a significant milestone for the City of Ishpeming and reflects our commitment to thoughtful growth, transparency, and creating new opportunities for investment in our community,” said Mayor Pat Scanlon. “We are proud of the collaboration and hard work that made this achievement possible and look forward to building on this momentum to create a stronger, more vibrant future for Ishpeming.”

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.