City of Niles receives Certification as Redevelopment Ready Community

LANSING, Mich. - For its efforts in establishing a solid foundation to attract private investment and further build on municipal assets, Niles has been awarded the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced today.

MEDC officially designates Niles as a Certified RRC in Michigan. Niles now joins a distinguished group of Michigan communities from all regions of the state that have qualified as "thoroughly prepared" in their planning and zoning efforts. This designation aims to eliminate traditional barriers and foster opportunities for potential investment. For a complete list of RRCs, visit here.

"Our mission at MEDC is to support Michigan's strong economic momentum and empower communities to establish a strong planning, zoning and economic development foundation," said MEDC SVP of Community Planning & Development Readiness Michele Wildman. "The City of Niles is well-positioned to continue to implement their vision for the future and further improve the quality of life for its residents. We look forward to building upon our relationship with the City of Niles and supporting local economic development efforts."

As an RRC participant, the City of Niles received a comprehensive assessment that measured current community and economic development practices compared to RRC best practice standards. Communities leverage the RRC toolkit to integrate transparency, predictability, and efficiency into local economic development practices. Certification is a compelling indicator that a community has removed development barriers and streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive for investment.

"Achieving the Redevelopment Ready Communities certification shows that Niles is serious about smart, sustained growth," said Mayor Nick Shelton. "We've done the critical work to make it easier and more appealing for developers and businesses to invest here, and that investment translates directly into new jobs, quality housing, and stronger neighborhoods for our residents. This certification is our clear signal that Niles is ready to compete for the kind of vital projects that move our community forward."

As a certified community, Niles will have access to new tools to implement its community development goals as well as ongoing support and technical assistance from the RRC team. Annual check-ins and updates will help ensure the City continues implementing the best practices over time. Certification is active for five years before needing to be renewed.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: FacebookInstagramLinkedIn, and Twitter.