The team at Cornerstone Alliance joins three Southwest Michigan municipalities in celebrating competitive grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today under the state’s Site Readiness Improvement Program, similar to news for Market Van Buren reported previously.
According to the MEDC, the grants were awarded through a new competitive Michigan Build Ready Sites Program, which aims to boost the state’s inventory of available properties that are ready to compete for new businesses.
Cornerstone joins the cities of Sturgis and Three Rivers as well as the Village of Colon in sharing a part of a more than $3.3-million pie going to a total of 45 industrial sites in 31 counties revealed today.
State Senator Kim LaSata joined the applause for all four Southwest Michigan projects that were awarded the competitive grants today. She says, “This is great news for Southwest Michigan,” and adds, “These site readiness grants will go a long way toward making our communities that much more of an attractive place to do business and create jobs. Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to the MEDC for supporting our part of the state.”
All told, 45 industrial sites in 31 counties were awarded $3.3 million in site readiness grants. The four Southwest Michigan projects include:
- Cornerstone Alliance, in Berrien County, awarded $81,000 to build a retention pond and required infrastructure, and clear brush and trees at the entrance of the Cornerstone Industrial Park behind the Southwestern Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Township to add more curb appeal…
- The City of Sturgis, in St. Joseph County, was awarded $50,800 for environmental and infrastructure engineering assessments at the Stapleton Industrial Park…
- The City of Three Rivers, in St. Joseph County, was awarded $100,000 for a mainline fiber extension and connection at Enterprise Industrial Park…
- The Village of Colon, in St. Joseph County, will receive $79,400 to conduct an environmental study, asbestos survey, building code review, structural analysis, ALTA survey, and an infrastructure analysis at the Lamb Knit mill.
The Michigan Build Ready Sites program provides a critical roadmap to helping sites achieve “shovel ready” status. Those standards include appropriate planning and zoning, boundary survey, proper soil and environmental conditions, and more.
For more information, you can visit online at michiganbusiness.org/featured-sites/site-readiness.
