City of Inkster 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 Inkster has been awarded the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced today.

The MEDC officially designates the City of Inkster as a Certified Redevelopment Ready Community in Michigan. Inkster, a western suburb of Detroit, now joins a distinguished group of 95 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 Redevelopment Ready Communities, visit miplace.org.

“Place matters. Assisting Michigan communities in streamlining planning, zoning, and economic development practices helps to foster greater pride and reinvestment efforts that reverberate across our communities,” said Michelle Parkkonen, Managing Director of Technical Assistance Programs at the MEDC. “I am proud of the work the City of Inkster has accomplished to cultivate vibrant and attractive places, empowering residents to be the authors of redevelopment in their community and securing a brighter future for all.”

As an RRC participant, the City of Inkster 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.

“Achieving Redevelopment Ready Communities certification is a major milestone that reflects the heart, resilience, and ambition of the City of Inkster,” said Mayor Byron Nolen. “This designation sends an unmistakable message that Inkster is open for business and prepared to drive growth. With the backing of the MEDC, we are ready to bring transformative residential and commercial projects to life, showing exactly what a committed city can accomplish when it turns vision into progress.”

“Achieving RRC certification represents the consistent work behind the scenes that drives progress: the policies, partnerships, and planning that help Inkster move forward with clarity and confidence,” said Planning Commissioner AC Williams. “This milestone shows that Inkster is ready for development, but it also reflects our belief in this city's potential, our commitment to the progress our residents deserve, and our determination to make the promise of a stronger, more vibrant Inkster a reality.”

As a certified community, Inkster will have access to new tools to implement its community development goals as well as ongoing support and technical assistance from the Redevelopment Ready Communities 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.

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 Threads.