Manistique has been awarded the Redevelopment Ready Communities Essentials designation from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Launched statewide in 2013, RRC is a voluntary initiative which empowers communities to shape their future as they strive to become RRC Certified by building a foundation of planning, zoning and economic development best practices and integrating them into their everyday functions.
RRC promotes communities to be development ready and competitive in today’s economy by actively engaging stakeholders and proactively planning, making them more attractive for projects that create places where people want to live, work and invest.
“The Redevelopment Ready Communities process started a few years ago for us. We were a newly formed Council with a new City Manager so with some shifting and sorting we were able to slowly begin to tackle the framework for the Essentials status,” Manistique Mayor Joan Ecclesine said. “Guided by former planner Christopher Germain for a short time at the beginning and then working Pablo Majano to the end, we have gained understanding and respect for having all the Best Practices in place.”
“We greatly appreciated the unfailing effort as Pablo reviewed our work and helped us improve ordinances, policies, accountability and transparency. I feel as we move forward, we definitely have a solid foundation to meet the challenges of small-town promotion and development with our Essentials status certification.”
After engaging communities and other partners for feedback, MEDC evolved the RRC toolkit to introduce two designations: “Essentials” and “Certified.”
This allows communities to choose the path that best suits their needs, considering their capacity, goals and local factors. Achieving the RRC Essentials designation formally acknowledges that a community has a clear vision for the future and the essential practices to realize that vision.
“We applaud the City of Manistique for achieving Essentials status,” said MEDC SVP of Community Planning and Development Readiness Michele Wildman. “The City of Manistique has identified its desired direction for the future and has a plan to achieve its goals for the community. We look forward to building upon our relationship with the City and supporting its continued economic development efforts.”
To achieve the Essentials designation, the City of Manistique worked to incorporate all the key documents and practices to provide a predictable development experience and meet local planning and zoning responsibilities under Michigan law.
This includes updating the master plan, developing a capital improvements plan and updating the boards and recruitment information. The City’s efforts have produced high-quality documents and processes that will continue to generate value.
“Achieving the Redevelopment Ready Communities Essentials designation through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation marks a significant milestone for the City of Manistique and reflects a sustained, organization-wide commitment to improvement,” said City Manager Corey Barr. “Through access to technical assistance, training and statewide networking, the City is better equipped to pursue strategic development initiatives, support local businesses, and enhance quality of life for our residents.”
“I would like to recognize the efforts of City Council, the Planning Commission, staff and our partners who contributed to this accomplishment. Their work has created a strong operational framework that will support thoughtful growth and investment for years to come.”
To date, the MEDC has formally recognized 92 Michigan communities in all corners of the state at the Certified level and 39 at the Essentials level. These communities have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to planning and zoning, to remove traditional barriers and promote opportunities for prospective investors.
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