On Oct. 9, there are few places that Malinda Baker would rather be than the “Moving You Forward Opportunity Expo” taking place at Kettering University. She says she’s planning on attending the large-scale resource fair, “because it’s an opportunity to efficiently learn about so many different local programs. So often services go unused, because people simply […]
It is an age-old question. How do you get people with money to invest in places where it is most needed? One answer is Opportunity Zones (OZs). They can help communities in Flint and Detroit grow and prosper. Part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts, the new economic development tool is designed to incentivize […]
Flint and Genesee County are among areas in 18 states approved for federal support that could help boost job creation and economic improvement. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service approved Michigan’s application for Opportunity Zones, communities eligible for tax benefits designed to improve the quality of life for their residents by […]
It seemed a peculiar setting for a discussion about affordable housing. Traverse City is better known as a community that boosts Michigan’s tourism than one that attracts low- and moderate-income residents. But some took notice when a young man attending a public meeting spoke up about his daily, 45-minute trip from work into town, saying […]
When Gary Heidel visits his hometown lately, he is buoyed by the improvements he sees. An executive with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) for the past 30 years, the Flint native has held a special interest in his hometown’s resurgence. While population loss and vacant housing have hit the city’s economy in ways […]
Three years ago, Kinyemi Sims found some free money to help her catch up on her property taxes. She was nearly $12,000 behind and was afraid she wouldn’t be able to prevent a foreclosure on her property. She found the help she needed through Step Forward Michigan, a federally-funded interest and payment-free, forgivable loan program […]