News Story

Wayne County Commissioners today issued $19.8 million in funding to help finance 13 economic development projects in Detroit and four suburban communities. Eight of the projects are based in Detroit and one each in Brownstown Township, Grosse Pointe Woods, Hamtramck and Westland. Another is regional.

The county’s share augments some $170 million in community projects ranging from creating new residences and preservation of historic structures to development of walkways, greenways and recreation areas.

Other support will come from the state, local foundations and private individuals. The projects are separate from the American Recovery Act projects previously approved for funding by the commission and not subject to federal deadlines.

“These projects fall into four categories: education, workforce development, affordable housing and parks and recreation,” Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) said.

County contribution to Detroit projects include:

• Ossian H. Sweet Foundation - $226,952 for redevelopment of the historic Ossian H. Sweet home, site of a pivotal event in Civil Rights history.
• Paradise Valley Cultural & Entertainment District Conservancy - $2 million to redevelop Beatrice Park, Gratiot Plaza and other district projects.
• University Commonwealth of Detroit - $500,000 to help create a small business sustainability initiative.
• Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp. - $2.5 million to help create Minock Park Place, an affordable senior housing complex with retail space.
• Detroit Horse Power - $1.4 million to develop an urban equestrian educational center.
• Give Merit, Inc. - $2 million to develop sports, recreational and educational infrastructure.
• National Faith Homebuyers - $500,000 for Phase III of its Detroit Down Payment Assistance Program.

Suburban projects include:

• Brownstown Township - $2 million for the township’s Community Center Redevelopment Project.
• Friends of the Rouge - $4.59 million to help develop the Rouge Gateway Greenway, the second phase of a 20-year walkway project linking Detroit and suburban communities.
• Grosse Pointe Woods - $380,000 for safety improvements to the Mack Avenue and Vernier Road intersection.
• Westland - $2.5 million to create the Nankin Square community center adjacent to city hall in the City Centre District.
• Hamtramck Parks Conservancy - $251,766 to install new restrooms and other improvements to Keyworth Stadium, the city’s historic Negro Leagues ballpark.

Other projects include $1 million to Eccalon, LLC of Hanover, Md. for cyber security workforce development.