News from the Community Assistance Team (CATeam)
In This Issue
We Need Your Input!
Please take a moment to complete the survey below to provide anonymous feedback about your experiences with CATeam and Program Services team programs and resources. We value your opinion and will use it to guide our program design. Thank you for your input.
Visit HERE to take the survey.
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The first RRC open application round saw 36 communities apply to participate in the program. The eight highest scoring applicants were selected to go through the formal evaluation process this year: Allegan, Ann Arbor, Boyne City, East Lansing, Lansing, Lathrup Village, Muskegon and Novi. The other 28 applicants will receive training on RRC best practices to help them move toward RRC certification. Click HERE to view a complete list of applicants.
RRC is a state-wide certification program to help communities become development-ready and competitive. It promotes the use of effective redevelopment strategies through a set of best practices. Each best practice addresses key elements of community and economic development. To be awarded certification, a community must demonstrate all of the RRC best practice components have been met. Communities wishing to become RRC certified or those looking for more information are encouraged to visit www.redevelopmentready.org.
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Learn about several economic development tools available from MEDC, the Michigan Land Bank, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The workshops will explore ways to connect community organizations and individuals with state of Michigan placemaking resources and programs.
Lansing MI Placemaking Tools Workshop
Registration is still open for the first workshop on March 21 at the Michigan Municipal League’s office in downtown Lansing. The fee is $30 and includes a continental breakfast and boxed lunch.
Additional workshop dates and locations:
- May 22 – Kalamazoo
- June 6 – Marquette
- July 25 – Gaylord
- September 12 – Saginaw
- October 15 – Detroit
Register today!
MI Place Toolkit
Also, the much anticipated MI Place Toolkit is live and more information can be found at http://miplace.org/. The Toolkit was established to provide communities with Placemaking Resources available through the various state agencies.
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MEDC is developing a CDBG Consolidated Plan, an updated Application Guide and a new Grant Administration Manual for Program Year 2013 (starting July 1, 2013) and welcomes your input. The Consolidated Plan guides the program for the Program Year with high level goals and objectives. The draft plan can be downloaded from the MSHDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/mshda.
Please note the following date and locations for the 2013 Draft Consolidated Plan Public Hearing:
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Lansing: March 14, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Michigan State Housing Development Authority, 735 East Michigan Ave.
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Detroit: March 14, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Cadillac Place, 3028 W Grand Blvd.
The Application Guide, a resource for all MEDC CDBG programs grantees, outlines policies, requirements and priorities. The current Application Guide is available at michiganadvantage.org/CDBG and will be a model for 2013. The Grant Administration Manual is a new document that will detail compliance requirements once a grantee has received funding. Comments and suggestions for these documents are requested by March 28 and should be sent to cdbg@michigan.org.
Downtown Development Planning Grant Competitive Round Announcement
MEDC has announced a competitive Downtown Development Planning Grant. The grant, which will fund a planning study, helps Michigan non-entitlement communities identify a project site and determine which activities are necessary to increase the viability of a specific property. The grant will create opportunities to stimulate job creation and generate new investment.
The maximum dollar amount awarded to a community is $100,000. A total of $500,000 is available through the Downtown Development Planning Grant program.
Funding priority will be given to projects that have significant local match, demonstrate private investment and job creation opportunities, and include elements that foster a sense of place in the community.
For application information and requirements please click here.
Farm-to-Food
MEDC plans to add a grant funding opportunity for multi-seasonal farmer markets to its CDBG Consolidated Plan effective July 2013. Anticipated eligible activities would include demolition, construction, and rehabilitation. A project would be required to meet a National Objective, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The community would be expected to demonstrate the financial viability of the market and show that there are sufficient management abilities, skills, and resources available to operate and maintain the facility. The facility would have to be used mainly as a farmers market, and for community-related activities in the off-season.
For more information, please contact your CATeam Specialist.
CDBG Training
MEDC plans to offer CDBG training workshops around the state during the summer of 2013. The workshops will provide grant administration guidance, process navigation tips and an opportunity to meet the program staff and ask questions.
Dates and locations will be announced soon.
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We have received several inquiries regarding amendments to Public Act 381 and the CATeam is available to provide assistance on the impact, including presentations. Contact your CATeam Specialist for more information.
Contact your CATeam Specialist for more information about changes to Public Act 381
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Public Act 395, enacted in December 2012, changed the definition of “eligible investment” to allow funds from sources outside of the person requesting the incentive to count towards the cost basis for determining the MCRP award. The change was put into effect largely to assist non-profit developers who use grant funding as the basis for project development. At the February 27 Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) Board meeting, MCRP Guidelines were updated to reflect the change.
Please contact your CATeam Specialist for more information.
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Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC), a public-private initiative developed by MEDC, connects Michigan companies to free services and procurement opportunities that can help them grow and expand. We would like to provide a tool to connect developers and communities. By participating in the program, developers may find new development opportunities. If you would like more information, please click HERE. If you would like to discuss this initiative further, please contact Jake Schroeder, PMBC Procurement Director at (517) 241-2477.
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The CATeam needs your favorite downtown pictures! Pictures may be printed on MEDC marketing materials or highlighted on the MEDC website. Photos need to be 300 dpi (dots per inch) and in a .jpg format. Please send your photos directly to your CATeam Specialist.
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Please help us welcome Dan Leonard, the new CATeam Specialist for Regions 2 and 3. Dan is coming to MEDC from Peninsula Township in Grand Traverse County where he served as the community's Planner. Dan brings great experience from the local community side as well as strong relationships with other state agencies. We look forward to him joining the CATeam on March 18. His cell phone will be (989) 387-4467 and his email is leonardd6@michigan.org.
In addition, the team is expecting babies in Region 4 and Region 10! Lisa Pung will cover Region 4 while Sarah Rainero is out on leave effective early May. Nate Scramlin will cover Region 10 while Stacy Esbrook is out effective late May. The teams have started working together to insure a smooth transition.
Downtown Theater Update
MEDC was considering a program for downtown theaters, but given the high demand from film and digital media productions for the Film Office, the resources are more limited than originally anticipated and therefore the program will not move forward at this time. MEDC is looking into other avenues that may be able to assist theater owners as they work to convert to the digital projection systems.
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