Six Michigan Communities Receive Blueprints for Michigan’s Downtowns Award

    LANSING, Mich., July 17 /EMWNews/ -- Keith Molin, interim

executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority

(MSHDA) announced today the current round of Michigan communities to be

selected by MSHDA to take part in the Blueprints for Michigan's Downtowns

program. A total of six communities were selected to receive the Blueprints

for Michigan's Downtowns award this year and they are; Gladwin, Hartford,

Hillsdale, Ironwood, New Baltimore and Sparta



    The communities selected through the Blueprints for Michigan's

Downtowns program will receive a comprehensive, market-driven strategy

toward developing an action-oriented downtown that will result in economic

growth, job creation and private investments in their downtown communities.



    "Programs like Blueprints for Michigan's Downtowns go a long way in

helping revitalize traditional downtowns, making them more desirable places

to live, work and invest," Molin said. "Economic vitality of our vibrant

communities and cool cities is the cornerstone of continuing economic

success for the entire state."



    The Blueprints for Michigan's Downtowns program is part of Governor

Granholm's Cool Cities Initiative to create vibrant communities in

Michigan. These efforts are based on numerous recent studies showing that

investing in our downtowns creates vibrant centers, making our state

economically stronger.



    Communities interested in obtaining information regarding the

Blueprints for Michigan's Downtowns program are asked to contact Laura

Krizov at MSHDA at (517) 241-4237.



    MSHDA is a quasi-state agency that provides financial and technical

assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve

safe and decent affordable housing, engage in community economic

development activities, and address homeless issues. MSHDA's loans and

operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable

bonds and notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. For more

information on MSHDA programs and initiatives, visit the Web site at

http://www.michigan.gov/mshda.