Traverse City receives certification as Redevelopment Ready Community

Designation facilitates private investment, improves economic development opportunities

LANSING, Mich. – For establishing a solid foundation to attract private investment and further build on municipality assets, city of Traverse City has been awarded Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today.

The MEDC will formally present the award at 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 7 at the Commission Chambers, Governmental Center at the beginning of the City Commission meeting agenda to recognize Traverse City’s new designation. Commission Chambers are located at Governmental Center 400 Boardman Avenue.

The northern Michigan city joins 17 other communities that have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to planning, zoning along with other key features that remove traditional barriers and promote opportunities for prospective investors. Other certified RRC communities include Allegan, Battle Creek, Boyne City, Dearborn, Eastpointe, Escanaba, Ferndale, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Lathrup Village, Manistee, Marshall, Middleville, Muskegon, Roseville, Southfield and Ypsilanti.

“Our mission at MEDC is to empower communities so they can proactively shape their future, a future built on a solid foundation of retaining and attracting business investment and talent,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “We look forward to working collaboratively with Traverse City to create a vibrant community where business and talent want to be, and where a strong sense of community flourishes.”

As an RRC participant, the city of Traverse City received a comprehensive assessment that measures current community and economic development practices compared to RRC best practice standards. Further, the program evaluates and certifies communities that integrate transparency, predictability and efficiency into economic development practices. Certification status provides a compelling sign that a community has removed development barriers and streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive to investors. 

"Going through the RRC process felt a bit like getting an annual physical. The City was probed, poked and questioned on how we communicate and engage with the public; how we handle development requests and present ourselves to others. Overall, Traverse City was in pretty good health, but certification process brought to light a number of areas we were could improve our practices. Two areas in particular we have made changes. We formalized the steps we will take to involve the public on planning efforts and key developments and; we have developed a marketing plan that informs the developers of the type of community we want to be versus the other way around, " said Planning Director Russell Soyring. 

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About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.