Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Program

Geographic Scope: Statewide Michigan program. West Michigan partner agencies (The Right Place, Inc., Lakeshore Advantage, and Greater Muskegon Economic Development) administer regional applications for 13-county Prosperity Region 4 area: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Ottawa counties.

Focus Areas:

• Place-based infrastructure development
• Real estate rehabilitation and development
• Public space improvements
• Gap financing for projects

Eligible Project Types:

• Downtown pocket parks
• Waterfront activation sites
• Pop-up market spaces
• Public art installations
• Streetscape improvements
• Community gathering spaces
• Pedestrian plazas
• Park renovations and amenities
• Historic structure rehabilitation
• Traditional downtowns
• Social zones
• Outdoor dining spaces

Eligibility:

• Individuals or entities working to rehabilitate vacant, underutilized, blighted, and historic structures
• Projects developing permanent place-based infrastructure
• Minimum 50% match required from each sub-applicant

Funding Levels:

• Up to $1,000,000 per project for public space improvements
• Up to $5,000,000 per project for real estate rehabilitation and development
• Up to $20,000,000 to local or regional partners who develop coordinated subgrant programs

What They Fund: Place-based and real estate development projects that reactivate lost, underutilized, or vacant spaces in communities.

Contact Information:

• Lakeshore Advantage (West Michigan Regional Administrator)
• Phone: 616.772.5226
• Email: info@lakeshoreadvantage.com
• Address: 65 E. 7th Street, Holland, MI 49423

Additional Notes: Applications are evaluated by regional team according to MEDC priorities. Three rounds of funding have been awarded to West Michigan region totaling $10.72 million for 32 projects over three years.

Application Process

1. Submit Online Project Form
   • Online submission portal provided by regional administrators
   • Submit project details and preliminary information
   • Meets initial evaluation against MEDC scoring criteria
2. Evaluation Phase
   • Internal team evaluates all applications
   • Scoring based on MEDC priorities
   • Selection of projects meeting innovative placemaking/real estate criteria
3. Required Information:
   • Project description and objectives
   • Geographic location and county
   • Project budget and funding request amount
   • Source of 50% minimum match funding
   • Timeline for implementation
   • Community benefit and economic impact
   • Alignment with placemaking/revitalization goals
4. Submission Requirements:
   • View MEDC's project eligibility requirements and considerations (available on MEDC website)
   • Ensure compliance with MEDC guidelines for eligible activities

Contact for Application Details:

• Lakeshore Advantage: info@lakeshoreadvantage.com or 616.772.5226
• The Right Place, Inc.
• Greater Muskegon Economic Development