Title
Resolution to Appropriate Grant Funds from Ann Arbor SPARK to Develop a Site Readiness Strategy for Employment Growth and Approve the Agreement for Subaward of Strategic Site Readiness Program (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
A central theme of the City's New Approach to Economic Development is strategic land acquisition. Key action items include developing a strategy for targeted property acquisition, working directly with owners of underutilized sites to support redevelopment, and partnering with Ann Arbor SPARK to advance business expansion and attraction efforts. Ann Arbor is largely built out, with limited land available for research and development, lab space, and other employment-generating uses. As a result, growing companies that require larger sites or modern facilities have few viable options within the city. To remain competitive, the City must strengthen site availability to support business expansion and attract new investment.
To advance this work, Ann Arbor SPARK, using funds provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation through its Strategic Site Readiness Program, awarded the City $82,305.00 to develop a land acquisition strategy. The Agreement for Subaward of Strategic Site Readiness Program between Ann Arbor SPARK and the City is attached for review and approval.
In furtherance of the grant objectives, the Department of Economic Development, in partnership with the Ann Arbor Economic Development Corporation (EDC), issued a request for proposals to identify a consultant to conduct a comprehensive analysis of potential redevelopment sites and to establish clear, objective criteria to guide future site acquisition and site-readiness efforts. This effort will provide the City with a structured framework to evaluate opportunities, prioritize public investment, and proactively prepare sites that support employment growth. The Selection Committee identified Plante Moran as the most responsive bidder and, following approval of this ...
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