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Cool Cities: 23 projects selected as 2006 designees

Friday, July 21, 2006 10:37 AM EDT

LANSING - Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm Thursday announced that 23 projects have been selected for the 2006 Cool Cities Grants and Program.

Cool Cities designations are part of Granholm's economic plan to revitalize Michigan's cities by retaining and attracting jobs and people to grow Michigan's economy.

The 2006 Cool Cities designees estimate the program will assist in the creation of 456 full-time and 11 part-time jobs.

"Michigan's economic success is directly tied to our ability to attract and retain jobs and opportunities that will keep our young adults here in Michigan," Granholm said.

"The Cool Cities initiative is a critical tool for achieving vibrant cities, which attract job providers who in turn provide the opportunities that will grow our economy."

A Cool Cities designation brings with it funding and a variety of "tool box" items provided by state agencies to help Michigan cities and neighborhoods achieve the projects outlined in their applications submitted for consideration by a review committee.

The Cool Cities program utilizes existing state resources, which are used more efficiently through the collaboration of state agencies.

Now in its third year, the Cool Cities initiative offers a "Neighborhoods in Progress" designation, which awards $100,000 catalyst grants along with priority access to existing state grant funds, loans, tax credits or services that can help create vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods.

This year, 16 projects received the Cool Cities "Neighborhoods in Progress" designation and priority access to "tool box" items.

Twelve of the 16 will also each receive the catalyst grant of $100,000.

The 12 projects receiving the Cool Cities Neighborhoods in Progress and catalyst grant are located in Benton Harbor, Detroit (3), Flint, Grand Rapids, Howell, Ionia, Lansing, Mount Clemens, Muskegon and Pontiac. The four projects that received the Cool Cities designation and priority access to state resources, without the $100,000 catalyst funding are: Adrian, Cadillac, Dearborn and Saginaw.

Cities participating in the first year of the program say the Cool Cities designation helped create 400 new jobs and retain 500 existing jobs. They also reported more than $350 million was contributed by local, state, and private organizations.

€ 2006 Cool Cities Michigan Main Street: Lansing's Old Town and Iron Mountain. These projects will receive more than $200,000 in technical assistance and training as part of a long-term management approach to revitalizing and maintaining a successful downtown through organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring.

€ 2006 Cool Cities Blueprints for Michigan's Downtowns: Charlevoix, Muskegon Heights, Oscoda, Petoskey and Tecumseh.

Based on a market-driven approach, MSHDA and consulting staff team up to provide a public process and action-oriented strategy to revitalize the downtown in a three- to five-year period including a market study for the downtown.

Designees receive a 50/50 match and MSHDA pays for half the consultant fee.

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