Check out a great story in Crain’s this week on a group of private investors who’ve spearheaded more than $50 million in private redevelopment investment in downtown Flint in the past few years.
Once again, a key theme of the success is regional cooperation…
It follows a strategy to streamline government and find local, private investment dollars to reinvest in the city, said Tim Herman, CEO of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, which has been coordinating downtown development efforts.
Streamlining the economic development efforts had to come first, Herman said. So the regional chamber was created in 2006 when it was decided there were far too many groups trying to do the same thing.
Prior to the consolidation, Flint’s economic development was handled by the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce, Flint-Genesee Economic Growth Alliance, Genesee Area Focus Council Inc. and the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
“They all stood up and said, ‘let’s go down this road together,’” said Herman.
Like Flint’s Uptown Six, angel investors are quietly banding together to invest millions in private projects in places like Midland, Lansing, and West Michigan.
2 Comments
I was just curious to know why Mayor Don Williamson’s name was never mentioned in your article. Flint’s revitalization through development is a fantastic story, but none of it would have happened without the involvement of Mayor Williamson. Please comment. Thank you.
Tracey Martin-Henry, Esq.
P.O. Box 40603
Redford, MI 48240
(313) 244-6679
It is so inlightling to see what is happening in Flint. Hopefully this is something that can catch on and be incorporated in other areas of our state.
Dale Westrick