Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Program

Program Type: Statewide grant program for public placemaking and real estate redevelopment

Administrator: Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

Geographic Scope: Statewide Michigan; West Michigan region managed by three regional partners

Regional Partners for West Michigan:

• The Right Place, Inc. (Greater Grand Rapids area)
• Lakeshore Advantage
• Greater Muskegon Economic Development Corporation
• Serves 13-county Prosperity Region 4: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Ottawa

Program Launch: 2022

Total Funding Available: $75 million statewide

West Michigan Regional Performance:

• Round 1 (2023): $6.1 million awarded to support 17 projects
• Round 2 (2025): $1.3 million awarded to support 7 projects
• Three rounds across three years: $10.72 million total to fund 32 projects

Eligible Project Types:

• Downtown pocket parks
• Waterfront activation sites
• Innovative spaces for pop-up markets
• Public art installations
• Streetscape improvements
• Community pavilions
• Pedestrian plazas
• Bike parks and recreational facilities
• Historic preservation and revitalization
• Real estate rehabilitation (vacant, underutilized, blighted, and historic structures)
• Permanent place-based infrastructure
• Traditional downtown development
• Social zones and outdoor dining spaces

Funding Structure:

• Public space improvements: Up to $1,000,000 per project
• Real estate rehabilitation and development: Up to $5,000,000 per project
• Coordinated subgrant programs: Up to $20,000,000 to local or regional partners
• Minimum 50% match required from sub-applicant

Eligibility:

• Individuals or entities working to rehabilitate vacant, underutilized, blighted, and historic structures
• Development of permanent place-based infrastructure
• Projects associated with traditional downtowns, social zones, outdoor dining, and place-based public spaces
• Geographic scope: 13-county region

2025 West Michigan Award Recipients:

1. Steele Street Park, City of Ionia, Ionia County | $185,600
2. Howard City Depot Revitalization and Placemaking Project, Howard City, Montcalm County | $185,600
3. Rowan Park Broadway Streetscape, Muskegon Heights, Muskegon County | $185,600
4. Saugatuck Township Town Center, Saugatuck, Allegan County | $185,600
5. Holland Bike Park, City of Holland, Ottawa County | $185,600
6. Farmer's Market Community Pavilion, Village of Lakeview, Montcalm County | $185,600
7. Downtown Newaygo Pocket Park, City of Newaygo, Newaygo County | $185,600

Application Timeline (Most Recent Round):

• Project submission intake: November 15, 2024 - December 6, 2024
• Notifications: Week of May 13, 2025

Contact:

• Name: Tim Mroz
• Title: Senior Vice President of Community Development
• Organization: The Right Place, Inc.
• Address: 25 Ottawa Ave SW, Suite 400, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
• Phone: 616-771-0325
• Email: info@rightplace.org

Application Process

Regional Application Process:

1. Intake Phase: Online project submission form
2. Submission: Project summary via online form
3. Scoring: Internal evaluation team scores applications against MEDC priorities
4. Selection: Regional partners select projects for regional group application
5. Regional Application: Regional partners submit consolidated application to MEDC
6. Notification: Applicants notified of awards

Most Recent Application Timeline:

• Intake Opens: November 15, 2024
• Intake Closes: December 6, 2024, 5:00 PM
• Regional Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
• Award Notification: Week of May 13, 2025

Intake Form Requirements:

• Project description
• Location information
• Project type classification
• Funding amount requested
• Match funding commitment (minimum 50%)
• Organizational/applicant information
• Alignment with program priorities

Evaluation Criteria:

• Alignment with MEDC priorities
• Project viability and feasibility
• Community impact and benefit
• Quality of project design
• Strength of match funding commitment
• Readiness to implement

Geographic Requirements:

• Projects must be located in eligible 13-county region
• Region 4 Prosperity Region: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Ottawa

Funding Match:

• Minimum 50% local/project match required
• Match can be public or private funding
• In-kind contributions may be considered

Application Resources:

• Online project submission form (live during intake period)
• MEDC project eligibility requirements document
• MEDC scoring criteria and considerations
• Regional partner consultation available