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Transforming Springfield One Shopfront at a Time

10/23/2017

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DevelopSpringfield recently announced that is accepting applications for its "Lease It Local," a program, which will offer businesses up to half a monthly lease (up to $500) to occupy storefronts that are now vacant or underused. Eligible properties are vacant or underused ground-floor storefronts in the Springfield Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) District.  

The Lease It Local program aims to:  
  • Create opportunities for residents to lease space for their entrepreneurial ventures;
  • Encourage property owner reinvestment; and
  • Enhance the overall vibrancy of downtown.

DevelopSpringfield's Lease It Local program will provide:
  • Rental subsidy up to 50% of monthly lease with a cap of $500 / month. Subsidy can last for as little as 3 months up to 12 months with a total cap of $6,000 per business.
  • Business also eligible for grants covering up to 50% of professional services with a cap of $750 per business.

Eligible applicants include independent operators (no franchises or chains), artists, or social enterprises.  While all industries are welcome, the program emphasizes uses drive daily foot traffic and preference is given to Springfield residents and those who have completed formal business training or mentoring.  For more info on the program check out DevelopSpringfield's program page.

NP performed the project consulting on the Springfield TDI Partnership’s Active Implementation Plan that worked with the Springfield TDI Partnership for the district.  A key action within the strategy was spurring retail frontage development including a subsidy program for potential tenants while the market was still being “proved.”

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Grand Rapids Receives IDA's Highest Honor for Working Towards Racial Equity and Opportunity in its Downtown

10/3/2017

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Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. is being celebrated for its work to put forward an equity driven growth model for the future of the city's downtown.  Recently, the International Downtown Association (IDA) recognized the Grand Rapids community for its efforts to build racial equity and opportunity in Downtown Grand Rapids with a Pinnacle Award - the industry's highest honor.
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Downtown Grand Rapids spearheaded Grand Rapids Forward, which is a 10-year plan and investment strategy "to transform the Grand River into a distinct asset and support the next generation of growth in Downtown Grand Rapids."  Since the Plan's adoption in 2015 many actions have been taken that support greater equity and inclusion in Grand Rapids including but not limited to:
  • Changed zoning policy to better promote a range of housing options that serve a diverse range of people and families.
  • Enabled the Downtown Development Authority to support minority- and women-owned business development.
  • Achieved an 80% increase in nonwhite attendance at Movies in the Park through community partnership and more inclusive programming.
  • Further diversified DGRI citizen Leadership Network to better reflect community’s diversity of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, expertise and geographic residence.
  • Partnered with Government Alliance on Race and Equity to develop strategies for transforming City government operations to help achieve racial equity.
  • Passed Pilot Food Truck Ordinance to expand opportunities for culinary entrepreneurs.
  • Partnered with Rose Center for Public Leadership to develop strategies for achieving equity goals through new development projects. 
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NP is proud to have been part of the team who prepared the Grand Rapids Forward Plan, serving as an economic consultant with a focus on workforce development, retail dynamics and entrepreneurial activity.  ​​
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