MSHDA Investing $2.

5 Million in Blight Removal in Five Michigan

Counties
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Katie Bach
Media Affairs Manager
bachk@michigan.gov
517.335.4786

Melissa Delekta
Communications Assistant
delektam@michigan.gov
517.373.0513
July 25, 2014

LANSING, Mich. The Community Development Division (CDD) of the Michigan State Housing
Development Authority (MSHDA) has announced six recipients will receive Neighborhood
Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) funding income. The $2.55 million awarded in the first funding round
will help financeblight demolition and senior housing projects in Berrien, Calhoun, Genesee, Ingham
and Kalamazoo counties.
Blight has been undermining the urban cores in these counties for too long, MSHDA Executive
Director Scott Woosley said. These resources will help further stabilize neighborhoods by
eliminating some of the vacant and abandoned properties that drive down housing values and lead
to crime and disinvestment. Its a first step toward the restoration process.
Not all program income is going toward demolition, Woosley said. Almost $1.5 million is going to
create senior housing within the city of Kalamazoos Prairie Gardens Development.
As our senior population lives longer and stronger, we want to make sure communities have an
ample supply of housing to meet their needs.
Woosley said another funding round could be announced as early as August.
First round recipients:
City of Battle Creek/Calhoun County Land Bank Authority: $264,990, forthe demolition of24
single-family residential blighted structures. Contacts: Battle Creek, Chris Lussier, 269.966.3267 and
Calhoun County Land Bank Authority, Krista Trout-Edwards, 269.781.0859.
City of Kalamazoo: $181,500, for the demolition of 19 single-family residential blighted structures.
Contact: Julie Johnston, 269.337.8210.
Berrien County Land Bank Authority: $119,000, for the demolition of 12 single-family residential
blighted properties. Contact: Katie Montoya, 269.983.7111.
Genesee County Land Bank Authority: $396,440, for the demolition of 34 single-family residential
blighted structures.Contact: Doug Weiland, 810.766.7436.
Ingham County Land Bank Authority: $155,540, for the demolition of eight single-family
residential blighted structures and the deconstruction of four single-family residential blighted
properties. Contact: Jeff Burdick, 517.267.5221.
Kalamazoo County Land Bank Authority: $1,429,310, for the creation of 10 additional units of
senior housing within the city of Kalamazoos Prairie Gardens Development. Contact: Mary
Balkema, 269.384.8134.
These funding efforts demonstrate MSHDAs commitment to placemaking, and the role it plays in
building a thriving future for Michigan through programs that help create places where people want
to live and work. CDD supports affordable housing and vibrant places by providing financial
resources and technical assistance training to local and statewide partners.
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.