Several projects in Bad Axe and Port Huron were funded last week following the state’s approval of $99.2 million in grant funding through the Revitalization and Placemaking Program (or RAP 2.0).
RAP 2.0 provides funding to revitalize communities and address COVID-19 impacts. The funding was allocated into three categories– Public Space-based Infrastructure, Real Estate Development Projects and Subgrant Programs–with Port Huron and Bad Axe receiving funding from the second category.
Port Huron received almost $3.2 million for the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County and $500,000 for the Save Our Neighborhoods and Streets project, with the $3.2 million completing the city’s fundraising to construct a business incubator and headquarters building in Port Huron for the EDA. Port Huron City Manager James Freed noted that without the funding, the building project was likely to be cancelled, but now, they will be able to put the project out to bid this coming February, with construction planned to begin in June.
The $500,000 will be used to address the ongoing work to the Harrison Pointe Neighborhood. Though grateful for the $3.2 million for the EDA building, Freed did express disappointment that it was chosen over a “much-needed housing development,” with housing a bigger community concern than “office space.”
Meanwhile, Bad Axe received $500,000 for the Huron Community Foundation, with the money going towards the Community Hub Project in downtown Bad Axe. The project aims to bring two vacant, blighted buildings back to life in the city’s traditional downtown, with the project to include offices for the Huron Community Foundation, second floor residential units, a community board room and coworking space, plus a “parklet.”
