Michigan Announces $39M in Redevelopment Funding for Battle Creek, Detroit Projects

Funding will boost local housing and business through mixed-use developments and infrastructure improvements.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced two major redevelopment projects in Battle Creek and Detroit that will receive over $39 million in state funding through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program. The projects aim to spur economic growth and improve access to housing and childcare in the local communities.

Why it matters

These redevelopment initiatives are part of Michigan's broader "Make it in Michigan" economic development strategy, which seeks to attract and retain businesses and workers by investing in place-based infrastructure and real estate projects. The funding will help transform vacant and underutilized sites into vibrant mixed-use hubs that provide housing, childcare, and other amenities to support the local workforce.

The details

In Battle Creek, a $5 million RAP grant will help redevelop 5 acres of a former K-Mart site into an $30.2 million mixed-use campus with 80 new apartments, including 48 low-income units and 32 workforce units. The project, called Blue Light, is located near major employers like the Fort Custer Industrial Park and Ford's planned Blue Oval Battery Michigan facility. In Detroit, a $34.2 million RAP grant will support the redevelopment of a vacant industrial site into a mixed-use development featuring 231 residential units, 30,000 square feet of commercial space, and new public infrastructure.

  • On February 20, 2026, Governor Whitmer announced the two redevelopment projects receiving state funding.

The players

Gretchen Whitmer

The Governor of Michigan who announced the $39 million in redevelopment funding for projects in Battle Creek and Detroit.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

The state agency that is administering the Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program, which is providing the funding for the redevelopment projects.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

These redevelopment projects demonstrate Michigan's commitment to revitalizing underutilized urban areas and providing affordable housing and community amenities to support local businesses and workers. The funding will help transform vacant sites into vibrant mixed-use hubs that can attract new investment and improve quality of life in Battle Creek and Detroit.