A $20,000 grant is going to the city of Niles for a downtown improvement project. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation says the Main Street Vibrancy Grant Program provides grants of $20,000 to Select or Master level Michigan Main Street communities to enhance the vibrancy and economic vitality of downtown areas. Niles is one of the eight recipients of the grants announced Wednesday. The downtown project Niles is planning will install outdoor dining space improvements with security planters, a sun and wind barrier, and solar powered signs with color-changing spotlights for trees throughout downtown. Niles Main Street Director Lisa Croteau says the team is “thrilled to have been awarded a Vibrancy Grant to help us put in place recommendations from the Winter Cities Report as well as the outdoor area we are currently working to create.”
