Cool Cities Summary

Key Messages:

Governor Granholm understands that spurring economic development in Michigan starts

with investing in its people through expanding health care, mentoring children, growing great
workplaces and revitalizing our communities. The Cool Cities Initiative is one part of the
Governors overall plan to stimulate economic growth in Michigan by attracting and
retaining a young, highly-educated workforce

By using existing resources creatively, the Initiative has invested $3 million in 79

communities, helping cities jumpstart redevelopment and construction projects, including
building new parks, renovating old buildings, and organizing neighborhood clean-ups.

Community leaders credit the Cool Cities designation for (re)energizing local stakeholders.
The designation has boosted community pride and fueled cooperation among public, private
and government sectors.

By coordinating and targeting existing state grants for economic growth in cities, public
investments from across state government are now used more effectively.

Overview:
2004: The first 19 Cool Cities projects were awarded nearly $1.9 million. Project dividends:
500+ jobs retained
400 new jobs created
68 new businesses
5 business expansions
$63 million public investment
$109 million state investment
$174 million private investment
2005: The second 13 Cool Cities projects were awarded $1.3 million.
2006: There were 33 Cool Cities applications submitted.
Local community leaders praise Cool Cities:
Detroit: "Eastern Market is a gem, much loved by our greater Detroit community," said
Katherine Beebe, President of the Greater Downtown Partnership. "We have been
working with Eastern Market property owners, businesses, vendors and visitors to create
a unanimously supported plan for renovating the historic market sheds and creating the
Market as a vibrant anchor for our revitalized downtown community. We are so glad the
Governor and others are joining us as partners in making this plan a reality." [Michigan
Economic Development Corporation, Detroit's Eastern Market Officially Celebrates
Cool: $100,000 Grant Awarded to Promote Creative Urban Development, 9/23/04]
1

Warren: "It is an exciting day for Warren," said Mayor Mark Steenbergh. "This
important project will benefit all the city's residents." [Michigan Economic Development
Corporation, Warren Breaks Ground on Cool: $100,000 Grant Awarded to Promote
Creative Urban Development, 8/24/04]

Grand Rapids: "They can dismiss the governor all they want, but this is a project, this is
a program that is helping in business districts in our city and in cities all over Michigan,"
said Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. [Grand Rapids Press, Cool Cities get the
heat, 5/25/06.]

Holland: Mayor Al McGeehan, who leads a strongly Republican city, agreed. Holland
received a Cool Cities grant to revitalize the downtown Park Theater. "Michigan cities are
in peril," McGeehan said. "Thank God there are those who are still doing what they can
do to lift cities and celebrate cities." [Grand Rapids Press, Cool Cities get the heat,
5/25/06.]

Saginaw: "This Governor intends to make Saginaw a Cool City, and we love it!"
Saginaw Mayor Wilmer Jones Ham said. Saginaw City Manager Cecil A. Collins praised
the economic boost the project will provide to the community. " [Michigan Economic
Development Corporation, Governor Announces $2 Million Project to Help Bring New
Businesses and Jobs to Saginaw: Improvements Needed for Future Development in City,
2/23/05]

Bay City: "Waterfront property is our most precious resource," said Bay City Deputy
City Manager Steve Black. "We are very excited and grateful to receive the Cool Cities
designation." [Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Bay City Officially
Celebrates Cool: $100,000 Grant Awarded to Promote Creative Urban Development,
6/13/05]

Bay City: In 1976 when the Third Street Bridge collapsed and fell into the river the
City lost not only a historic bridge, but also public access to the waterfront. Today we
celebrate the reclamation of this beautiful waterfront site for the Bay City community.
Further, I would like to thank the Governor for creating the Cool City program which
made this project possible, stated Mayor Robert Katt of the City of Bay City.

Ishpeming: "Ishpeming has worked hard to make our downtown the social center of our
community," says John Korhonen, Ishpeming City Manager. . . . Thank you, Governor
Granholm for recognizing our past efforts and awarding Ishpeming the Michigan Cool
Cities Main Street Community designation." [Michigan Economic Development
Corporation, Ishpeming Celebrates Valuable Cool Cities Main Street Award
Gains Access to $200,000 in Technical Assistance, Training, 7/11/05]

Cool Cities is beginning to pay dividends:

Detroit: The Southwest Detroit Business Association is transforming the historic Odd
Fellows Hall on West Vernor with the help of one of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's Cool
Cities initiative grants. [Detroit Free Press, Nonprofit groups ditch fights with city hall
and make strides with development in Detroit, 5/16/06]
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20060513/BUSINESS04/605130321/1017

Grand Rapids: 'Cool cities' grant gives Heartside area a big boost
Dennis Sturtevant, executive director of Dwelling Place, made the remark at the formal
dedication of Martineau Apartments. The apartments, at 106 and 120 S. Division Ave.,
were made possible by a state "Cool Cities" grant, Sturtevant said. . . . The $100,000
grant opened the door to a resource toolbox of more than 100 other grants, loans and tax
credits, Sturtevant said. [Grand Rapids Press, 5/11/06]
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news29/114735995037020.xml&coll=6

Bay City: Downtown leaders a decade ago commissioned plans for Waterfall Park at the
end of Third Street. But there wasn't enough money available to build it. Until Gov.
Jennifer Granholm began her Cool Cities Initiative in 2003 neat little projects. [Bay City
Times editorial, Waterfall Park is a powerful symbol of Bay City's renewal, 5/7/06.]
http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news1/1146996974207520.xml&coll=4

Ferndale: "These funds will support five major building projects in a one-block area of
our downtown and help us guide a design process that is consistent with its character. We
could not do it without the Cool Cities award," said Jeff Nahan, chairperson of Ferndale
Downtown Development Authority. "We are truly honored to be a recipient of this grant
and all of the resources the state has to offer." [Michigan Economic Development
Corporation, Ferndale Officially Celebrates Cool: $100,000 Grant Awarded to Promote
Creative Urban Development, 8/26/04]
http://www.michigan.org/medc/news/major/archive/combo.asp?ContentId=4337ACAB0D93-4DDF-A711-D68457C29694&QueueId=2&ContentTypeId=7

Marquette: Construction on the third and final phase of the long-planned Marquette
Commons project began earlier this week. . . . The work will cost $537,000, with
$280,000 coming from a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land and Water
Conservation Fund grand. Part of the $100,000 Cool Cities grant the DDA received to
kickstart the project will also be used, Lang said. [Mining Journal, $537,000 Commons
Project underway, 4/26/06]
http://www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=3121

In total, there are 79 Cool Cities Neighborhood Award Designations:

32 Cool Cities Neighborhoods in Progress Award Designations
Alpena, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Detroit (7 designees), East Lansing, Ferndale,
Flint, Grand Rapids (4 designees), Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo (2 designees), Lansing,
Marquette, Port Huron, Portland, Saginaw, Saugatuck, Sault Ste. Marie, Traverse City,
Warren, Ypsilanti.
11 Cool Cities Main Streets
Boyne City, Calumet, Clare, Grand Haven, Howell, Ishpeming, Marshall, Midland,
Muskegon, Niles, Portland.
30 Cool Cities Blueprints for Michigans Downtowns
Adrian, Battle Creek, Big Rapids, Brighton, Buchanan, Charlotte, Cheboygan, Davison,
East Tawas, Fremont, Grand Haven, Grass Lake, Highland Park, Houghton, Howard City,
Imlay City, Ionia, Iron River, Linden, Menominee, Middleville, Mt. Pleasant, Norway,
Romeo, Saline, Utica, Vassar, Village of Jonesville, Wayland, Whitehall.
6 Cool Cities Blueprints for Michigans Neighborhoods
Alpena, Cadillac, Kalamazoo, Manistee, Muskegon, Vassar.
Governor Granholms Cool Cities Initiative is helping create jobs, promote economic
revitalization, and build local cooperation:
The Cool Cities designation has been attractive to employers as they consider whether to
open offices or plants in nearby industrial parks. Employers have shown an interest in
the Cool Cities designation because it suggests that the community would be attractive
workers and their families. [Public Policy Associates, Incorporated, "Early Successes of
the Cool Cities Initiative," 5/23/06]

Community leaders credit the Cool Cities designation for (re)energizing local
stakeholders. The designation has increased community pride and led to greater
optimism for the future. [Public Policy Associates, Incorporated, "Early Successes of the
Cool Cities Initiative," 5/23/06]

By coordinating and targeting existing state grants for economic growth in cities rather
than the old scattershot approach, public investments from across state government are
now used more effectively. [Public Policy Associates, Incorporated, "Early Successes of
the Cool Cities Initiative," 5/23/06]

Cool Cities is credited with improving communication, efficiency, and collaboration both
within and beyond Cool Citiesand that the collaboration had either held steady or
increased in the second year of the program. [Public Policy Associates, Incorporated,
"Early Successes of the Cool Cities Initiative," 5/23/06]

The Cool Cities Resource Toolbox is viewed as a highly useful resource by local
stakeholders. ["Early Successes of the Cool Cities Initiative," Public Policy Associates,
Incorporated, 5/23/06.]