Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) 2.0 Program

Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) 2.0 Program

Status: Active program with funds expiring September 30, 2027

Geographic Scope: Michigan (administered by Michigan Economic Development Corporation - MEDC); Detroit as a primary beneficiary region

Program Administrator: Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
Detroit Administrator: Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC)

Program Focus

The RAP 2.0 program provides access to real estate and place-based infrastructure development gap financing through grants. It is designed to:
• Support real estate rehabilitation and development
• Fund public space and place-based infrastructure improvements
• Enable local/regional partners to develop subgrant programs
• Provide gap financing to move projects forward
• Support mixed-use development projects
• Enable affordable housing creation
• Support historic renovation and adaptive reuse
• Promote inclusive growth across Michigan's 10 prosperity regions

Award Categories

1. Real Estate Project Grants: Up to $5 million per project 2. Public Space Infrastructure Grants: Up to $1 million per project 3. Subgrant Program Grants: Up to $20 million to local/regional partners

Eligible Projects

• Mixed-use development projects
• Commercial space development
• Residential housing (market-rate and workforce/affordable)
• Historic renovations and adaptive reuse
• Public space improvements

Funding Deadline

All funds must be expended by September 30, 2027

Selection Criteria for Detroit Projects

Developers were selected based on:
• Project location and strategic alignment with Detroit priorities
• Readiness to proceed with construction
• Organizational capacity of developer
• Long-term community impacts
• Financial viability
• Local and regional strategic alignment
• Preference given to:
- Mixed-use/mixed-income housing projects - Historic renovation and adaptive reuse - Emerging and minority developers - Projects with demonstrated site control

Detroit Implementation

DEGC administers RAP 2.0 projects in partnership with:
• City of Detroit's Housing and Revitalization Department
• Mayor's Office Jobs and Economy Team (JET)
• City's Grants Management Office

Funding Mechanism

Gap financing is provided as reimbursable grants to developers as phases of their projects are completed. DEGC remains actively engaged throughout construction to verify expenditures and ensure project completion.

2024 Detroit Example Projects (January 2024 Award)

Detroit received $14.5 million in RAP 2.0 grants for five major mixed-use development projects:

1. Broadway Lofts - $4.275 million

Location: 1322-1332 Broadway Street

80 residential units (studios, one-bedrooms)

20% offered at affordable rates (60% AMI)

Ground-floor retail space

Developer: Roger Basmajian/Basco Detroit

2. Fisher 21 Lofts - $4.750 million

433 residential units (mixed types)

63 units income-restricted affordable housing (60 at 80% AMI, 3 two-bedrooms at 50% AMI)

26,700 sq ft retail space

17,685 sq ft co-working space

Developers: Gregory Jackson and Richard Hosey

3. The Arthur Murray Building - $2.128 million

Location: 16621-16653 E. Warren Ave.

Historic renovation of first Arthur Murray Dance Studio franchise location

32 residential apartments

7,900 sq ft ground-floor retail

Total project cost: $14.9 million

Developer: Emery Matthews/Real Estate Interests, LLC

4. Jefferson Intermediate School - $1.425 million

Location: 950 Selden Street and 960 Frank Street

Multi-tenant office and innovation/co-working space

Headquarters for Invest Detroit

Total project cost: $44.4 million

Developer: Midtown Detroit, Inc. and Invest Detroit

5. The Deco - $1.197 million

Location: 16703 E. Warren

Historic renovation of vacant two-story commercial building

6 new rental apartments

Ground floor restaurant (La Jalisciense Taqueria)

Total project cost: $4 million

Developers: Brandon Hodges and Damon Dickerson/TRIBE Development

Broader Impact

• October 2023: MEDC approved $99.2 million in RAP 2.0 grants across Michigan's 10 prosperity regions
• Focus on inclusive development with majority of Detroit projects led by African American developers
• Addressing historical barriers to capital access for minority developers in real estate

Contact Information

Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Executive Vice President: Michele Wildman

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC)
500 Griswold St., Ste. 2200
Detroit, MI 48226