downtown &
community
development
downtown &
community
development
Helping Communities Turn Ideas Into Action
Strong communities don't happen by accident. Downtown revitalization, public spaces, infrastructure, redevelopment, and placemaking projects often require local leadership, strong partnerships, and the ability to connect an idea with the right resources.
Huron County EDC works alongside communities and local partners to help identify opportunities, connect projects with resources and expertise, and bring the right people together to move ideas forward.
Have a community project in mind?
From an Idea to a Project
Maybe your community has identified a vacant building that needs a new use, a downtown space that could be improved, an infrastructure need, or an idea residents have talked about for years. The challenge is often figuring out how to turn that idea into something actionable. The EDC can help communities think through the opportunity, identify potential partners and resources, and determine logical next steps.
Here are the ways we can help
Define the Opportunity
What are you trying to accomplish, and what needs to happen before the project can move forward?
Connect the Right Partners
Bring municipalities, DDAs, property owners, nonprofits, state agencies, funders, consultants, and others into the conversation when appropriate.
Identify Resources
Explore potential grants, technical resources, financing tools, and programs that may fit the project.
Build Momentum
Help identify next steps that can move a community idea toward planning, funding, and implementation.
Resources for DDAs and Community Leaders
Whether you're serving on a DDA, leading a municipality, volunteering with a community organization, or working to advance a local project, you don't need to know which program or agency to contact before reaching out. The following represent types of projects and resources we can help communities explore.
Downtown Revitalization
Support for projects involving downtown buildings, commercial districts, redevelopment, façade or property improvements, and other efforts that strengthen downtown areas.
Placemaking & Public Spaces
Projects that improve how people experience a community—from parks and gathering spaces to streetscapes, public art, wayfinding, waterfronts, trails, and other public amenities.
Redevelopment
Helping communities think through vacant, underused, obsolete, or challenging properties and connect with redevelopment resources.
Planning & Infrastructure
Community projects may also involve infrastructure, master planning, zoning, transportation, utilities, or other groundwork necessary to support future development.
Finding Funding for Community Projects
Funding a community project often means bringing together multiple resources. Depending on the project, support may come from state or federal grants, local or regional funders, philanthropic partners, appropriations, or other programs.
The EDC can help communities identify potential funding sources, understand application requirements, connect with funding agencies, and strengthen projects before an application is submitted.
Common Funding Partners & Resources
DNR
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Parks, recreation, trails, public access and outdoor-recreation projects.
EGLE
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Brownfields, environmental remediation, water infrastructure and other environmental projects.
MEDC
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Downtown development, placemaking, redevelopment, public infrastructure and community-development initiatives.
MDOT
Michigan Department of Transportation
Transportation, pedestrian, streetscape, trail and mobility-related projects.
MSHDA
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Housing and certain community-development/revitalization initiatives.
HCCF
Huron County Community Foundation
Local philanthropic support for projects and initiatives that strengthen Huron County communities.
USDA
Office of Rural Development
Rural community facilities, infrastructure and other community-development investments.
State & Federal Appropriations
Legislatively directed funding can sometimes support significant community facilities, infrastructure and other priority projects.
Preparing for Funding
Identifying a funding opportunity is only one step. Strong applications often require communities to demonstrate that a project is well-defined, locally supported, financially feasible, and ready to move forward.
A Clearly Defined Project
What are you doing, why is it needed, who will benefit, and what will it cost?
Local Support
Board or council resolutions, letters of support, community input, partner commitments, or other evidence that the project has local backing.
Strong Partnerships
Competitive projects often demonstrate collaboration among municipalities, nonprofits, businesses, community organizations, funders, and other stakeholders.
Local Match & Financial Commitments
Many programs require matching funds or evidence of other committed resources.
Project Readiness
Depending on the opportunity, this might include site control, preliminary designs, engineering, cost estimates, environmental review, permits, or other due diligence.
A Plan for What Comes Next
Who will own, operate, maintain, or implement the project after funding is secured?
Need a Letter of Support from the EDC?
The EDC regularly provides letters of support for projects that advance community and economic development priorities in Huron County. Contact us early with information about your project, funding request, application deadline, and the support being requested.
Community Development in Action
See how communities across Huron County are turning local ideas into investment and action.
Have a Community Project in Mind?
Whether your community is exploring a downtown project, public-space improvement, redevelopment opportunity, infrastructure need, or an idea that's still taking shape, we'd like to hear about it.
You don't need to have the project figured out before contacting us. Tell us what you're trying to accomplish, and we'll help identify potential resources, partners, and next steps.