State Approves $87.5M in Grants to Bolster Project Site Readiness Efforts

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) has approved $87.5 million in grant funding for 18 projects across the state of Michigan — including two in metro Detroit — through the Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP), which support the state’s efforts to compete for and win transformative projects.
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Overhead shot of lot
The crosswind runway project at Coleman A. Young International Airport in Detroit is one of two local projects receiving state site preparation funding. // File photo

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) has approved $87.5 million in grant funding for 18 projects across the state of Michigan — including two in metro Detroit — through the Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP), which support the state’s efforts to compete for and win transformative projects.

One local site is a 440-acre section of Van Buren Township, at Ecorse and Belleville roads, being prepared for development by the Detroit Aerotropolis. It received $18.6 million. The other is a brownfield site for a crosswind runway at Coleman A. Young International Airport (formerly Detroit City Airport). That project received $510,000.

“With a resetting of the industrial landscape currently underway in the U.S., the communities and economic development agencies that are proactively preparing industrial sites and training the workforce of tomorrow will be the winners in this race — the outcome of which will determine which states and regions will lead in economic and equitable prosperity over the next 20-30 years,” says Maureen Krauss, president and CEO of Detroit Regional Partnership.

“The approval by the MSF Board in the Strategic Site Readiness Program is paramount to Michigan’s success, and the Detroit Regional Partnership is aligned with the MEDC through our Verified Industrial Properties Program (VIP by DRP) to support our region’s commitment to ready more sites, to help Michigan win its share of the critical job creation projects.”

Through this funding for strategic site readiness and collaboration with local, regional, and energy partners, communities across Michigan are expected to experience increased economic development opportunities to support in their business development efforts.

“On behalf of the MEDC, it is exciting to be able to support local communities in their business development efforts as they bring forth sites of all sizes to prepare for economic development opportunities in their region,” says Terri Fitzpatrick, executive vice president and chief real estate and global attraction officer at MEDC. “While this is a good start, the demand remains substantial and will require continued funding for years to come.”

Applications for the grants were accepted from Sept. 18-Oct. 30, 2023. The MEDC received more than 70 applications totaling $420 million in requested funding — more than four times the SSRP allocation. Funding was awarded in nine of the state’s 10 prosperity regions, representing at least one grant for every region that submitted applications.

Of the 18 awardees, 10 are brownfield sites that will be receiving 49 percent of the award funding. The remaining awardees are greenfield sites throughout the state.

The full list of SSRP awardees by prosperity region includes:

Region 1

Hancock Business and Technology Park, City of Hancock: $969,352

Region 3

Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority Small/Medium Hangar Infrastructure, Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority: $500,000

Region 4

Muskegon Heights Industrial Parks – West and East, Muskegon Area First (brownfield site): $121,200

Covenant Business Park, The Right Place: $17,500,000

Region 5

3 Mile and Wilder Road, Bay Future (brownfield site): $4,161,500

Region 6

Flint Commerce Center, Flint Genesee Economic Alliance (brownfield site): $5,900,000

Corunna – Parmenter Road, Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership: $435,000

Region 7

Lansing RACER Trust Plant 6 Site, City of Lansing (brownfield site): $18,975,000

Delhi College Road Site, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (brownfield site): $6,500,000

Region 8

Southwest Michigan Commerce Park, Southwest Michigan First (brownfield site): $2,106,000

Hartford Industrial Site, Market Van Buren (brownfield site): $467,250

Benton Harbor Data and Tech Park, a partnership between Cornerstone Alliance and developer Franklin Partners (brownfield site): $3,600,000

Region 9

AICP – Lot 14, City of Saline: $15,350

LAC Site, Monroe County Business Alliance: $82,310

Latson Innovation Interchange Technology and Industrial Park, Ann Arbor SPARK: $6,500,000

Pleasant Valley Development, Ann Arbor SPARK (brownfield site): $604,000

Region 10

440 Acres in Van Buren Township (Ecorse and Belleville Roads), Detroit Aerotropolis: $18,600,000

DET Crosswind Runway, Detroit Economic Growth Corp. (brownfield site): $510,000

The remaining funds of the full $100 million SSRP allocation will support applications requiring more time and evaluation, additional needs that may come up later in the year and to have funds available to support sites that enter the site readiness certification program, which is scheduled to be launched this fiscal year.