LOWELL CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is providing grants for 18 development projects across Michigan, including a 237-acre parcel in Lowell Charter Township.
The $17.5 million dollars in funding for the local project will help with site preparation for the Covenant Business Park on Alden Nash Avenue, near I-96. Travis Alden is senior director of community development at The Right Place economic-development group, which helped facilitate the grant, along with Franklin Partners.
"I've been doing this kind of work for over 15 years, and I would hesitate to take a project where there's been better collaboration between the private and public sectors," Alden said on WOOD Radio's West Michigan Morning News.
Per the MEDC website: "Governor Whitmer joined MEDC in announcing the approval of $87.5 million in grant funding through the Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) to support the state’s efforts to compete for and win transformative projects. With over 70 applications submitted and $420 million in requested funding, 18 projects across the state of Michigan were selected."
In its announcement to the project team, the MEDC noted that the Lowell site is strategic for the region and that the funds will help make progress on preparing the property to become a premier site. The award letter also noted that the property will become a critical offering and help MEDC build a strong pipeline of sites across the state.
The site at Exit 52 on I-96 is a prime site for development because it is a main access point into Lowell. The interchange was recently upgraded for full all-season truck access. The parcel is zoned PUD (planned unit development) for industrial and commercial uses, and will have all utilities on site. Franklin Partners will develop a build-to-suit for industrial users or sell lots for industrial and commercial users. Thirty acres are available or retail /commercial use.
"The folks in Lowell Township, they just want to see some job-creation opportunities there. Some capital investment and some more prosperity for the community there," Alden said.
The $17.5 million in grants will cover about 50 percent of the project's initial development costs. That includes connecting public infrastructure, such as extending and connecting municipal sanitary sewer lines to the site.
"Once that's connected, I think there will be a whole lot of interest in folks opening up shop and creating some great businesses there," Alden said.
The industrial portion will cover 140 acres and the commercial section will be 30 acres. There is a potential industrial area of 1.7-million square feet.
The grant funding comes through the MEDC's new Strategic Site Readiness Program.
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