Major Projects Greenlit in Grand Rapids and Northville, Thanks to State Board’s Generous Incentives

Just in from the corridors of power: the Michigan Strategic Fund board has just approved significant incentives for some pretty special projects in Grand Rapids and Northville that are undeniably set to be game-changers.

Accompanying a hefty package of $252.3 million in Transformational Brownfield Plan incentives, Grand Rapids is seeing big plans for its latest shiny centrepieces. The new guy in town is the much-awaited Acrisure Amphitheater; a titan-sized venue under construction on a 10.6-acre site downtown, accompanied by a six-story residential building of 475 units and a parking garage to boot. This colossal initiative will pour in over $700 million bucks of investment into the city. Exciting times, Huh?

But wait, there’s more – the west side of the city is also set to join the party. An 8.5k-seat soccer stadium is on the works, as part of the grand design called The Stadium District Tower. This complex will offer shopping spots, workspaces, and 260 residential apartments backing onto a 350-space parking lot. Our fair city Mayor acknowledges these projects will greatly benefit local businesses while breathing new life into some underused riverfront property.

Jumping over to Northville, they’ve got their own share of cheer. Looking to revamp their 7.85-acre former Northville Downs site, the city has requested for and received a state tax capture that amounts to a nifty $2.08 million. A public park is slated for the site and it’s also expected to see a renewed Rouge River, thanks to infrastructure improvement costs. And yes, it’s not just the locals who’ll cheer – the benefits of this park will overflow to neighboring communities. So, who’s ready for a picnic?

The rejuvenation of this area will also see the arrival of The Downs a new community project that will debut single-family homes, apartments, townhouses, condominiums, and small businesses on the scene. Add to all this, a couple of big parks and enhanced connectivity options for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles pulling into town.

The supports listed for this project include a hefty $2.5 million fund from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, along with a nice $1 million grant from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Meanwhile, up in Greenville, the local refrigeration company, Northland Corp has scooped up a $1.2 million grant from the Michigan Business Development Program. This will allow them to expand their facility significantly and plow more than $21 million into new equipment. The result? Up to 200 new jobs and retention of 116 existing jobs. Now that’s cold, hard progress!