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Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Program

RIGHT PLACE FOUNDATION

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Funding Amount

Up to $1,000,000 per project (public space improvements); Up to $5,000,000 per project (real estate rehabilitation); Up to $20,000,000 (coordinated subgrant programs)

Deadline

December 31, 2026

267 days left

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

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):

  • Application deadline: January 31, 2025

  • 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

    • How to Apply

    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

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    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    community-developmentaffordable-housingcapitaleconomic-services

    Categories

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