Snyder Announces MI Neighborhood Program Designees

LANSING, Mich., May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gov. Rick Snyder today announced three neighborhoods have been selected by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to take part in the new MI Neighborhood program. The designees include the City of Muskegon's Nelson Neighborhood, the City of Flint's Grand Traverse District Neighborhood, and the City of Lansing's Northtown Neighborhood Association.

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As part of the MI Neighborhood Program, these neighborhood associations will receive three years of intensive technical assistance, with a focus on revitalization strategies designed to attract new residents and private investment, build capacity in the neighborhoods and increase vibrancy in adjacent business districts.

"The MI Neighborhood program will help these neighborhoods be more vibrant places for current residents and become more enticing places that will attract new residents and encourage reinvestment," Snyder said.

The MI Neighborhood program ties in with Governor Snyder's placemaking efforts to create vibrant communities across Michigan. These efforts are based on numerous studies showing that investing in placemaking creates vibrant neighborhoods, city centers and downtowns, making the state economically stronger. 

Each neighborhood will also be assisted by local organization partners. In Flint, Genesee County Habitat for Humanity will assist the Grand Traverse Neighborhood. In Lansing, the Center for New Enterprise Opportunity will help Northtown Neighborhood. In Muskegon, Community enCompass will assist the Nelson Neighborhood. 

The underlying premise of MI Neighborhood is a multi-faceted approach that encourages community revitalization in four areas:

• Design - enhancing the neighborhood's physical environment by capitalizing on its best assets and creating an inviting atmosphere through attractive parks, home improvements, streetscapes and landscaping
• Events/Marketing - creating a positive image of the neighborhood and traditional commercial district or traditional downtown to attract residents, visitors, customers and investors, as well as to rekindle community pride
• Organization - organizing neighborhood stakeholders to get residents working toward a common goal to implement MI Neighborhood, a volunteer-based program
• Neighborhood Reinvestment - create opportunities for residents to live in affordable homes, improve their lives, and strengthen their communities

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority is dedicated to building a thriving and vibrant future for Michigan. MSHDA provides tools and resources to improve people's lives through programs across the state. These programs assist with housing, build strong neighborhoods and help create places where people want to live and work. MSHDA's programs work in four areas: affordable rental housing, supporting homeownership, ending homelessness and creating vibrant cities and neighborhoods.

For further information on the MI Neighborhood Program, contact Lori LaPerriere, coordinator of the MI Neighborhood Program at 517.241.4117 or laperrierel1@michigan.gov.

About MSHDA
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents and to engage in community economic development activities to revitalize urban and rural communities.*

*MSHDA's loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds as well as notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. Proceeds are loaned at below-market interest rates to developers of rental housing, and help fund mortgages and home improvement loans. MSHDA also administers several federal housing programs. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mshda.

SOURCE Michigan State Housing Development Authority