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Grand Rapids Secures Funding for Key Revitalization Projects

A revitalized area in Grand Rapids, highlighting the blend of history and modern enhancements.

News Summary

Grand Rapids has received $775,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to revitalize the Four Star Theatre and the 807 MLK project. This funding is part of the Revitalization and Placemaking program aimed at rehabilitating historic structures and enhancing public spaces. The Four Star Theatre will become a cultural arts center, while the 807 MLK project will focus on mixed-use development, promoting economic growth and community engagement in the city.

Grand Rapids has secured $775,000 in funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to revitalize two key projects in the First and Third Wards. The funding is part of the Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program, which aims to support the rehabilitation of vacant and underutilized historic structures while improving public spaces across the state.

The funds are designated for significant improvements to the Four Star Theatre and the 807 MLK project. Approximately $325,000 of the total funding will facilitate the transformation of the Four Star Theatre, one of Grand Rapids’ most historic buildings, which is located at 1944 S. Division Ave. The renovations will aim to create a multi-use cultural arts center, potentially generating over 150 events annually and creating numerous jobs along the South Division corridor.

Developer Marcus Ringnalda, who purchased the Four Star Theatre in 2017 for $160,000, is set to invest an additional $1 million into renovating the building. Funding for the theatre’s restoration includes a $100,000 grant from Lowe’s as well as a $500,000 grant from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. In addition, the project has garnered further support from philanthropic endeavors.

The 807 MLK project, led by developer Dionne Harp, is allocated approximately $242,000 from the RAP grants, with a project budget totaling $485,000. This initiative will renovate a long-vacant building located at 807 Martin Luther King Jr. St. SE, creating mixed-use development featuring retail space on the ground floor and residential units above. The funding will be utilized to enhance the building’s façade, restore its structural integrity, improve aesthetic appeal, and elevate overall functionality.

A portion of the total $775,000 funding will be used for administrative costs associated with the two projects, which are part of a statewide initiative that encompasses 64 projects receiving a collective $25 million in the latest RAP funding round. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has highlighted the significance of these investments for Michigan’s overall economic growth strategy, emphasizing the development of vibrant community spaces as vital to fostering local economies.

The RAP program is designed to identify and fund the renovation of significant yet underutilized structures in communities, with a focus on revitalization that benefits local residents and businesses. The funding will support efforts not only to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of Grand Rapids but also to stimulate economic activity by creating jobs and promoting community engagement.

As the Four Star Theatre and 807 MLK projects move toward implementation, residents of Grand Rapids can anticipate enhanced cultural and community spaces that should contribute positively to the local economy and social fabric of the city.