Great Lakes Wire

Eight Michigan communities have been awarded a combined $160,000 in state grants for downtown enhancement and improvement projects, according to a press release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's (D-Mich.) office.

The Main Street Vibrancy Grant Program will provide grants of $20,000 to certain communities for projects that enhance the vibrancy and economic vitality of Michigan downtowns. "Projects could include pop-up shop programs; implementation of a marketing or advertising campaign; physical improvements such as new seating, seasonal infrastructure, signage, or art; and other transformative projects that help create a stronger sense of place and a more vibrant community," the press release noted.

The communities are Grand Haven, Grosse Pointe, Lansing, Lapeer, Niles, Otsego, Saline, and Sault Ste. Marie.

"The Michigan Main Street Vibrancy Grant funds will have such a large impact on the overall vibrancy and place-making of our Main Street district," Jeremy Swiftney, executive director of the Grand Haven Main Street Downtown Development Authority (DDA), said, according to the press release. "Our planned project is the creation of a social zone, complete with activities, yard games, live entertainment, and gathering space, right in the heart of our downtown district."

"We have painted barricades with beautiful murals to protect areas from vehicles, and plan to expand our beautiful flowers into the area as well," Swiftney continued. "This will continue our positive impact to the vibrancy and place-making of our district for all visitors and locals to enjoy. A huge thanks to Michigan Main Street for the opportunity this grant affords our community.”

Whitmer is committed to supporting small businesses as Michigan continues to grow its economy, the press release said. The state has added jobs for 10 straight months; this included adding 172,000 jobs year over year. Michigan has a low unemployment rate of 4.7%; the rate has declined 10 months in a row, the press release noted.

"Vibrant downtown areas are critical to creating jobs, attracting new investments, and helping local businesses build a foundation for long-term success in Michigan,” Whitmer said, according to the press release. "These grants will help communities in both peninsulas invest in their downtowns, developing unique places where people want to live, visit, work, and play. Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy, and we must continue working together to help them thrive. Over the last couple of years, entrepreneurship has flourished in Michigan, with over 430,000 new businesses formed since January 2019. Together, we will continue investing in small businesses and helping towns and cities of all sizes build thriving downtowns."

Michelle Parkkonen, managing director of Community Development Technical Assistance Programs at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), said the communities have worked diligently to improve their downtowns.

"Today's Vibrancy grants will help further strengthen the downtowns and commercial districts in these communities, helping their businesses grow while also building unique places that are attractive to residents and visitors," Parkkonen said, according to the press release.