West Branch Secures Redevelopment Ready Communities Certification to Bolster Economic Growth
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has awarded the City of West Branch with the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification. This achievement underscores the city’s strategic efforts to attract private investments and enhance municipal resources.
Joining an elite group of 78 communities across Michigan, West Branch is now recognized as a Certified Redevelopment Ready Community. This designation is a testament to the city’s thorough planning and zoning initiatives aimed at eliminating traditional barriers to investment. For a full list of certified communities, visit here.
MEDC Chief Place Officer Michele Wildman commented, “Our mission at MEDC is to support Michigan’s strong economic momentum and empower communities to establish a strong planning, zoning and economic development foundation. The City of West Branch is well-positioned to continue to implement their vision for the future and further improve the quality of life for its residents. We look forward to building upon our relationship with the City of West Branch and supporting local economic development efforts.”
West Branch underwent a detailed evaluation of its community and economic development protocols as part of the RRC program. The assessment benchmarked the city’s practices against RRC standards, emphasizing transparency, predictability, and efficiency. This certification indicates that West Branch has streamlined its processes to become a more competitive and appealing investment site.
Mayor Paul Frechette expressed enthusiasm about the certification, stating, “We are very excited to have the City of West Branch officially designated as a Certified Redevelopment Ready Community. It was a long and strenuous process but our City staff worked very hard to streamline our development practices to show that West Branch is committed to taking the necessary steps to make the community a great place for investment in both families and businesses.”
With its new status, West Branch gains access to a suite of tools to advance its community development objectives, backed by continuous support and technical guidance from the RRC team. The certification remains valid for five years, with annual evaluations to ensure adherence to best practices.
City Manager John Dantzer highlighted the program’s benefits, saying, “The City of West Branch is honored to have earned the Redevelopment Ready Communities Certification through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The program worked with the City to put in place the necessary tools and streamlined processes to help maintain our existing businesses while making it easier to attract new business and developments. We are excited to partner with the MEDC to continue to improve our administrative processes and policies and look forward to our future collaboration.”
About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is committed to fostering economic growth and supporting community development across the state.
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