Five mixed-used developments that could help revitalize the downtowns of these rural Michigan communities

What’s happening: Efforts to revitalize rural Michigan’s downtown corridors continue into the new year. Mixed-use developments in five such communities have recently earned support from the state as part of an ongoing economic and community development program, with each project activating underutilized or outright vacant properties in key commercial corridors.

Repurpose and restore: A long-vacant building in downtown Cheboygan will be redeveloped, restoring two second-story residential units and 1,589 square feet of street-level commercial space. A micro-grocery store is already planned for a portion of 3,400 square feet of street-level commercial space in downtown Ionia, where a functionally obsolete building will be redeveloped to also revive four second-story apartment units. Partially occupied in downtown Marshall is a three-story building in the Italianate style; a staffing agency will remain on the ground floor throughout renovations as developers activate additional commercial space in the basement and residential units on the upper floors. And in Morenci, a vacant downtown hardware store will be converted into the offices for a local CPA while second-floor apartments are also restored.

From the ground up: A vacant lot in downtown Port Sanilac will soon make way for a two-story mixed-use development featuring seven second-story apartments and street-level commercial space. The 17,650 square-foot development will feature ADA-compliant units listed between 80 and 120 percent of the area median income (AMI).

How they’re doing it: Each development was recently announced as part of the latest cohort to receive grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and its ongoing Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program, which serves to activate vacant properties in Michigan’s traditional downtown corridors and communities. These most recent grants range from a $335,000 RAP grant in Cheboygan to a $1.5 million RAP grant in Port Sanilac.

Why it’s important: “MEDC’s investment through the Revitalization and Placemaking program helped fill a critical financing gap, making this project possible,” says Morenci City Administrator/Clerk Jeff Bell. “This redevelopment supports the expansion of a long-standing Morenci business, helping retain and grow jobs while bringing new life to a prominent downtown building. Transforming a long-vacant property at a key intersection strengthens our downtown core and shows how targeted state investment can make a meaningful difference in small, rural communities.”