LANSING — State Rep. Brian K. Elder (D-Bay City) applauded today the announcement that Bay City was the recipient of a Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) grant that will allow them to demolish a number of blighted buildings in the area. The $250,000 award will be utilized to demolish 22 structures that fall within the Bay City Housing Improvement Strategy.
“I am very pleased to see Bay City receive this funding, as it will help continue the trajectory of upward improvement,” said Rep. Elder “When I served as a county commissioner, I saw firsthand the linkage between blight, property values and economic prosperity. We’re in an era of rebuilding for the city, and I look forward to watching what comes next once these buildings are demolished.”
Nineteen cities across Michigan will receive funding for residential and commercial blight elimination projects through MSHDA. County land banks and local governments were invited to submit eligible projects for the grant opportunity in late June. The call for applications asked for project proposals that would lead to improved public safety, stabilized or increased property values, and would support efforts that were currently in progress.
“Demolishing these buildings is ultimately a public service, as aside from being unsightly, they can often present problems for public safety,” said Rep. Elder. “This grant will help Bay City take another important step forward in its plan to revitalize the community, and I am grateful that MSHDA recognized the value of this proposal.”