LANSING ? Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm Monday announced another round of Cool Cities Grants, which offers up to $100,000 to cities to create vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods that could retain or attract young, hip technology workers.
The state also said a interactive video conferenceing workshop will be held in mid-March to help potential applicants better understand the resources available.
?Michigan?s economic success is tied directly to our ability to attract and retain exciting new jobs and young workers who are prepared to compete in a global economy,? Granholm said. ?The Cool Cities initiative is a critical tool for achieving that goal. We need to be able to attract jobs and opportunities that will keep our children in Michigan.?
Cool Cities will continue to offer a ?Neighborhoods in Progress? designation, which awards recipients with $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.
The program was expanded in 2005 with new categories: Cool Cities Michigan Main Street, Cool Cities Blueprints for Michigan?s Downtowns, and Cool Cities Blueprints for Michigan?s Neighborhoods. Like the Neighborhoods in Progress, designees in these categories will participate in a State Resource Fair and receive the ?Cool Cities Neighborhood? designation as well as special consideration for certain Michigan State Housing Development Authority programs.
A Pre-Bid Workshop has been scheduled for 1:30-4 p.m. March 14th. The workshop will be held using interactive video conferencing at remote sites in East Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie.
Information about the workshops will be posted at CoolCities.Com
