Urban Enterprise Zone outlines new grants, sets $100,000 pool for 2025

Tristan Smith, president of the Urban Enterprise Zone Association, told the Michigan City Common Council on April 15 that the UEZ awarded grants in the 2024 cycle to local businesses and residents and has set aside $100,000 for the 2025 cycle.

Smith said the 2024 awards included support to small businesses and residential home improvements; he described $7,500 as the cap for both the business grant and the home-improvement grant and said the UEZ added two program categories for 2025: a neighborhood improvement grant and a workforce development grant. "We are giving residents opportunity to get skilled up," Smith said, citing an example that workforce awards can pay up to $10,000 for vocational certification such as barber school. He directed interested applicants to call (219) 873-6860 and said applications are taken by appointment Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; applications appear on the city website under boards and commissions.

Why it matters: the UEZ grants are targeted at redevelopment-area businesses, homeowners and neighborhood projects; the workforce category signals an expansion of the program toward job-training support. Council members asked about available fund balances and outreach plans; Smith said year-to-date funds were "about $596,000" and that the UEZ will issue a press release and attend neighborhood events to promote the new categories.

Council reactions were uniformly supportive. Councilwoman Morgan Allen thanked the UEZ for adding the neighborhood category and noted a recent mayoral fundraising effort that also targeted neighborhood improvement. Councilman Dabney urged residents to check the UEZ map before applying, saying the zone’s boundaries are irregular and not always obvious. Councilman Nelson praised Smith’s leadership and the board’s work.

Program details Smith listed at the meeting: business grants up to $7,500 (for businesses operating inside the UEZ), home-improvement grants capped at $7,500 (for roofing, siding, fences and structural improvements), a neighborhood enhancement grant for community events or yard work for qualifying neighbors, and a workforce-development grant that covers certification and training costs up to amounts discussed at the meeting. Smith said the UEZ moved into new office space at 519 1/2 Franklin Street and that the 2025 grant application period runs March 1–Oct. 31.

The UEZ president encouraged applicants to present their applications to the board at its monthly meeting (every third Monday) and said the board aims to keep the review process "quick and sweet." Council members said they would amplify outreach and noted that greater awareness of the UEZ map and eligibility will be important to maximize participation.

Looking ahead: Smith said the UEZ will provide more details in an upcoming press release and continue neighborhood outreach; the council did not take formal action at the meeting but accepted the report and asked staff and the UEZ to continue outreach to residents and businesses.