City of Saginaw receives certification as Redevelopment Ready Community

Designation facilitates private investment, improves economic development opportunities

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

The MEDC will formally present the award on Friday, June 28 at a special event held in the new SVRC Marketplace.

Saginaw joins 32 other Michigan communities that have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to planning and zoning to remove traditional barriers and promote opportunities for prospective investors.

Other certified RRC communities include:

• Allegan
• Alpena
• Battle Creek
• Bessemer
• Boyne City
• Dearborn
• Eastpointe
• Escanaba
• Ferndale
• Grand Haven
• Grand Rapids
• Grayling
• Howell
• Hudsonville
• Jackson
• Kalamazoo
• Lansing
• Lathrup Village
• Manistee
• Marshall
• Meridian Charter Township
• Middleville
• Mount Pleasant
• Muskegon
• Oak Park
• Petoskey
• Pinckney
• Roseville
• Southfield
• Traverse City
• Ypsilanti
• Laingsburg

"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 Katharine Czarnecki. “Saginaw’s commitment to continuous improvement and community-focused development will pay dividends for many years to come. We are especially excited to welcome Saginaw as our second certified community in the Central Michigan region. With new projects in the pipeline, they are an example of what is possible when a community invests in itself to prepare for the future.”

As an RRC participant, the city of Saginaw received a comprehensive assessment that measured current community and economic development practices compared to RRC best practice standards. The program evaluates and certifies communities which integrate transparency, predictability and efficiency into economic development practices. Certification status is a compelling indicator that a community has removed development barriers and streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive to investors.

“The City of Saginaw is experiencing a wonderful revitalization, in great part, because of our commitment to planning, zoning and community engagement. I’m proud of this great work accomplished by our RRC team under the leadership of Yolanda Jones,” said Mayor Floyd Kloc. “This certification is an asset we will use to continue the tremendous momentum and the renewed interest in our community as a great place for investment, and an exciting place for families to grow.”

To reach certification, the city of Saginaw undertook several notable projects, including the city’s first public participation plan, updates to the zoning ordinance to include a riverfront mixed-use district, stronger documentation of the development review process, a more focused training approach, proactive redevelopment site selection and increased economic development and marketing efforts.

“The Redevelopment Ready Communities Program allowed the city to step back and evaluate how we are viewed from outside the community. As a result, we have developed new and improved programs and policies that can address the needs of Saginaw and prospective development,” said Yolanda Jones. “I am honored that our community has earned this recognition. We understand the value of this certification and believe that the designation as a Redevelopment Ready Community will help establish Saginaw as a destination for businesses and talent to thrive and flourish.”

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.