Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) and Local Partners Awarded $536,550 Revitalization and Placemaking Grant

Posted by on May 7, 2025

Marquette County, MI — The Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP), in collaboration with a coalition of local partners, has been awarded a $536,550 Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grant to support economic development and community enhancement efforts across Marquette County.

The funding, awarded through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s RAP 2.0 Program, is aimed at transforming underutilized public spaces and buildings into vibrant community assets that drive local pride and economic activity. This investment will be used to support a range of projects that contribute to placemaking, revitalization, and community resilience. The funding will support façade updates to five buildings in downtown Ishpeming, Marquette, and Negaunee:

  • The Anderson Building (203 S Main Street, Ishpeming)
  • Queen City Running (130 W Baraga Avenue, Marquette)
  • Method Real Estate Partners (201 N. Front Street, Marquette)
  • Degraeve Properties (442 Iron Street, Negaunee)
  • Samara Floral (415 Iron Street, Negaunee)

The grant program will cover 50% of the project cost with building owners covering the remaining 50% via private funding or other façade programs. The application was completed by the LSCP’s Community Development Programs Coordinator – an AmeriCorps position made possible thanks to support from the Community Foundation of Marquette County.

“These projects represent the incredible collaboration happening across our region and I’m honored that the LSCP could coordinate a robust subgrant program that spanned three different downtowns in Marquette County,” said Christopher Germain, CEO of the Lake Superior Community Partnership. “This funding allows us to reimagine what’s possible for our downtowns, public spaces, and community gathering places. Efforts such as these demonstrate our commitment to supporting vibrant communities that retain and attract talent and investment.”

“The Anderson/Nardi Building is a community-defining building in downtown Ishpeming that provides incredible untapped potential for new housing and commercial space in the West End” said Marquette County Land Bank Authority Executive Director, Antonio Adan. “We’re thrilled to be among the list of approved projects to receive RAP grant funding which will enable us to collectively put more than $500,000 into improving this mixed-use project. This also aligns well with the mission of the county land bank: to work collaboratively with local governmental units (DDA) and community organizations to eliminate blight, provide attainable housing and economic development opportunities and revitalizing communities. I’d like to thank the LSCP – in particular, Paul Thares – for their work coordinating this opportunity.”

With two projects in the Marquette Downtown Development Authority (MDDA), the MDDA Executive Director Tara Laase-McKinney expressed excitement in seeing continued investment in the area. “The RAP grant provided a unique opportunity for businesses in our district to combine private funding with our local façade program and then doubling those efforts with state funding. Thanks to this award, we’ll continue to see more investment in our district and community.”

“It’s no secret downtown Negaunee is experiencing a historic resurgence thanks to public and private investment,” said Negaunee City Manager, Nate Heffron. “With this state grant, two private business owners will be able to make major updates to their buildings that will continue that momentum, expediting new opportunities for business and residential growth in our community.”

The LSCP and its partners are committed to ensuring these investments deliver long-lasting benefits to residents, visitors, and businesses throughout the region. Implementation of these projects is expected to begin in Summer 2025.

Read more about the announcement here: https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2025/05/statewide-placemaking-grants/

Content