The City of St. Joseph is signing on to a more formal marketing plan designed to attract new businesses and new residents. Working with Cornerstone Allliancee and the Michigan Economic Development Corpooration, the plan encourages the City to develop tax incentives for business development in the downtown area and to focus more attention on the Niles Road Corridor of South St. Joseph as an opportunity for new economic growth.
The City Commission accepted the overall plan in a vote Monday and it was detailed in a statement from Cornerstone Alliance:
Presented by Cornerstone Alliance and East Lansing-based Place+Main Advisors, the strategy prioritized local input, with feedback being drawn from the City’s Master Plan and Downtown Vision Plans, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and a community open house. The document marries the vision of the community, with market data and national best practices to detail a tactical plan for attracting development, businesses, residents, and visitors to the community.
“St. Joseph has long had the capacity and demand to support significant investments in housing, retail, restaurant, and other business sectors. Translating that potential into projects is what this process has been about. As the City’s economic development partner, we look forward to helping the City seize the opportunities before it” saud Andrew Haan, Vice President of Business Development at Cornerstone Alliance.
The plan also details key recommendations to bring the strategy to life, including:
- Establishment of a Development and Tax Increment Finance Plan for the Downtown Development Authority District
- The creation of a subarea plan and funding model for the Niles Road Corridor, including exploring potential collaboration with St. Joseph Charter Township
- Strategic adjustments to downtown zoning to allow for additional missing middle housing types
- Adjustments to the City’s marketing materials and online presence
The Strategy was developed in alignment with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) Redevelopment Ready Communities® (RRC) program, and will help to ensure transparent, predictable, and efficient processes for development efforts, ultimately fostering a more vibrant and resilient community.
St. Joseph Mayor Brook Thomas commented, “The City is excited to put this document into action. We’re committed to being a destination for investment and development, businesses, and visitors, and to approaching that growth in a way that is sustainable and benefits the entire community”.
With the strategy in place, the City of St. Joseph will move forward with final certification through the MEDC RRC program later this year, unlocking technical assistance with the development of sites prioritized in the Downtown Vision Master Plan.
