Bill earned support of local government, business groups from across the state
LANSING, Mich. (May 11, 2023) — Today, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) and a bipartisan majority of the Michigan Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 289 and expand the Transformational Brownfield Plan program to assist Michigan communities in transforming obsolete and vacant properties into thriving mixed-use developments.
“Our local communities throughout Michigan are excited that we are updating the successful and creative transformational brownfield program. There is no other program designed for, or capable of, supporting brownfield redevelopments of this scale and impact,” said Sen. Moss, the bill sponsor. “This is a tool that will help keep and attract talent here, grow our population, and create the kind of vibrant locations that people want to live in—while retaining the local input and control that communities are looking for.”
Transformational Brownfield Plans work by reinvesting a portion of the new tax revenues from a completed project back into the project in order to make the redevelopment financially feasible, thus the program requires construction, development, and employment on site before any incentive takes place. By doing so, the community benefits from a transformational investment instead of a brownfield site, and local and state government receive new tax revenue that could otherwise not be generated.
“This legislation will create a transformational impact on local economic development and revitalize our communities,” said Senate Majority Leader Brinks. “I am excited about the opportunities this will present to communities across the state, including my home city of Grand Rapids, where we are well-positioned to welcome the new jobs and commerce generated by this holistic, people-first economic program.”
This program has already spurred critical redevelopment in Detroit and stands to benefit large communities like Grand Rapids, midsize and rebounding communities like Pontiac, and small communities seeking to put obsolete vacant land back to proper use.
“For Grand Rapids and Michigan to grow its population, and retain and attract talent, we have to build vibrant cities where people want to live,” said Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. “The Transformational Brownfield Plans program is a valuable tool that needs to be equally supportive of creating vibrant live and play districts with new housing, dining, shopping, entertainment and hospitality. Cities large and small need tools such as this to support important development and redevelopment projects. Senate Bill 289 is an important modernization of a highly successful economic development tool.”
“Transformational brownfields are critically important to facilitate much needed investment in older, central cities and in economically disadvantaged communities,” said Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel. “This bill is a prime example of how state and local leaders can partner to create meaningful growth across the state.”
The bill received widespread support in the Senate Economic and Community Development Committee spanning across geographies, sectors and political affiliation, in addition to Mayors Bliss and Greimel, including from: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor, Detroit Economic and Growth Corporation, Saginaw Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Municipal League, Southwest Michigan First, Traverse Connect, Grand Action, Economic Development Leaders for Michigan, Lansing Economic Area Partnership and more.
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