Crowdfunding campaign launched for “The Marketplace on the Green” project in Meridian Township

$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – Meridian Charter Township has created a project that will transform an outdated market into a lively public marketplace and functional centerpiece for community life through a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Meridian Township announced today. The campaign is being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by February 8, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/meridian.

“Through the Marketplace on the Green project, Meridian Township will bring its residents together in a vibrant new community centerpiece,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “The new space will relocate an overwhelmed amenity to a prime and central location with programming to keep the space well-used. We are pleased to provide resources for this effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

The campaign will activate a vacant lot on the north side of the Meridian Mall in Okemos by creating a large pavilion within the existing parking lot and adjacent unused green space.

The Marketplace will offer ample and fully accessible parking and restrooms, a market office that provides easier access to food assistance benefits, a play structure that includes surfacing to provide universal accessibility, a small performance stage, a plaza area for eating and socializing, and synthetic ice for year-round ice-skating opportunities.

The new facility will give Meridian Township a multipurpose centerpiece with the opportunity to host youth and adult sports, live music, food trucks, 5K races, festivals, bingo, yoga, and much more. 

“The Marketplace on the Green is an exciting project that will strengthen the link between placemaking, commerce, and recreation in Meridian Township. We are taking a step forward in making the "Marketplace on the Green" a go-to destination in Meridian Township,” said Meridian Township Parks and Recreation Director LuAnn Maisner. “The space’s location on Central Park Drive will make the marketplace the perfect attraction for improving community living.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.

“Engaging public spaces are key to great placemaking,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “The Marketplace on the Green will serve the dual roles of bringing an underutilized site to life and creating a lively community gathering space.”

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of November 30, 2018, MEDC has provided $5,686,841 in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 186 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $6.7 million raised from 35,005 individual donors.

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.