Most any waterfront community will readily admit that the water amenity they enjoy is their single greatest asset. With that in mind, Cornerstone Alliance President Rob Cleveland went before the St. Joseph City Commission tonight seeking a green light as his team at Berrien County’s lead economic development agency, joined by Berrien County developers, and several other key partners for a plan to add new public infrastructure in the local harbor while also establishing the first State of Michigan Water Trail designation in Michigan’s Great Southwest.
Cleveland delivered a presentation to the St. Joseph City Commission tonight, Monday, February 11th, showing the partnership with Berrien County Community Development, Abonmarche and the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, on the impact of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Waterways Program grant which they are seeking. That and other grants will add the new public infrastructure in the harbor while establishing the new Water Trail designation.
St. Joseph City Commissioners supported the request to apply for the grant in a unanimous vote. The project will now be presented for consideration to the Berrien County Commissioners.
The Waterways Program grant provides funding for design and construction of infrastructure that creates new public recreational access at four locations in the St. Joseph River, as shown in the accompanying photo from Cornerstone Alliance. If the project is approved by the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, Berrien County Community Development will apply for the DNR Waterways grant for infrastructure upgrades along the St. Joseph River, and Cornerstone Alliance will provide matching funds required for grant application, up to $150,000. The four sites named in the presentation include the Inn at Harbor Shores, the East Basin/Water Tower site, the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum on the St. Joseph River, and along Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor.
The DNR Waterways Program grant and Cornerstone Alliance efforts will establish a foundation that will jump start further development to other communities upriver. Cornerstone President Cleveland says, “Without question, our greatest asset is the water. Lake Michigan, our rivers, beaches and harbors are unique assets that should be maximized to increase mobility and connectivity opportunities. Many of our leaders have put great effort into projects like the Twin Cities Harbor study and the Harbor Charrette that have delivered a vision for the future of water recreation. This infrastructure will create new businesses and new jobs. We’re hopeful the State of Michigan will see that this project supports a lifestyle that draws families to our community.”
If awarded, the infrastructure upgrades will be made to areas that align with the findings and recommendations of the 2015 Twin Cities Harbor Study and overlap those areas identified as important by the public on September 19, 2018 for the Sustainable Harbors Initiative. In addition to the DNR Waterways Program grant, Cornerstone Alliance, in partnership with Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, submitted a Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Grant. The CZM Grant will assist in providing funding to achieve State of Michigan Water Trail Designation for St. Joseph and Paw Paw Rivers.
The Berrien County Commission will hear a presentation seeking approval to apply for the DNR Waterway Program grant from Berrien County Community Development and Cornerstone Alliance on February 21, 2019 at 8:30 am. Grant applications are due April 1, 2019.
Cornerstone Alliance is a non-profit, investor-governed, economic development organization primarily focused on increasing employment opportunities, private sector capital investments and the local tax base in Michigan’s Great Southwest; with specialized business services offered in economically distressed areas.
