Community Development Support

Community Development Services & Support

Resources that help communities access funding and expertise to revitalize downtowns, develop mixed-use spaces, and create destinations where people want to live, work and thrive.

MEDC’s place-based tools are designed to consider the unique vision of communities and enable local people to make decisions when defining, designing, and implementing solutions that support vibrant, diverse and resilient communities.

Community Development Offerings

Michigan Main Street

MMS helps communities develop main street districts that attract both residents and businesses, promote commercial investment and spur economic growth.

Redevelopment Ready Communities

RRC is a voluntary technical assistance initiative for communities aspiring to catalyze place-based redevelopment efforts.

Match on Main

Match on Main helps small businesses grow while strengthening Michigan’s downtowns and commercial districts.

Historic Preservation

Michigan's State Historic Preservation Office helps property owners, developers, and local agencies seize opportunities to celebrate and rehabilitate historic places that define Michigan communities.

Michigan Community Revitalization Program

MCRP provides gap financing in the form of performance-based grants, loans, or other economic assistance for eligible investment projects in Michigan.

Brownfield Programs

Brownfield Programs help develop walkable communities with historical architecture, provide support for mixed-use developments, help activate public spaces, and enrich arts and cultural amenities.

Public Spaces Community Places

PSCP is a crowdgranting initiative that can provide matching grant funds for crowdfunded public space projects.

Toolkit for Developers

Provides technical assistance resources, mentorship, and development support for real estate entrepreneurs.

Community Resiliency

Strategies and ideas to help communities recovery from disasters and become more economically resilient.

Statewide Support. Statewide Impact.

A glimpse into MEDC’s fiscal year 2025 community accomplishments and successes.

150+

Placemaking projects resulting in more than $1.62 billion in private investment

3.6 million

Square feet in public space reactivated

2,000+

New Small Businesses Started Through MEDC and Partner Support

3,300+

New housing units planned

Community Development Success Stories

A Look at Public Spaces Community Places in FY2025

For 11 years, the MEDC’s grant match program has invited the public to contribute to projects that create vibrant and active community spaces throughout the state. FY2025 saw 31 projects completed, from new murals for the Pleasant Peninsula Mural Festival in Grand Rapids to a new exhibit at the Besser Museum in Alpena

Michigan Main Street Communities Achieve Milestone Anniversaries

Six communities across the state of Michigan are celebrating milestone Michigan Main Street designation anniversaries in 2025, highlighting the impact of the MEDC’s placemaking efforts to support the continued success of the state’s downtown and neighborhood commercial districts

Supporting Local Bolsters Michigan’s Small Businesses and Communities

From Small Business Saturday and the busy holiday season to throughout the year, Michiganders are encouraged to Support Local

Celebrating 10 Years of Collaborative Placemaking in Michigan

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of MEDC’s grant match program, Public Spaces Community Places, we look back at the last decade of placemaking efforts in communities across the state

We could not have achieved our RRC designation without the technical support from our partners with the MEDC and the RRC toolkit they have assembled. We appreciate everything they have done to support our community vision and look forward to many more years of partnership.

Drew Benson

Assistant City Manager & Director of Economic Development, City of Wixom

Investing in Place

Access even more state and local community development tools and learn how MEDC can support your community to attract investment, and improve quality of life.

Community Development Tools & Placemaking Guide

Discover More On MiPlace.org

Find additional examples of how MEDC and Team Michigan are helping to create vibrant, sustainable and unique places across the state on our dedicated community development and placemaking website: MiPlace.org.

Visit MiPlace