Mount Pleasant seeks up to $6.8 million from Michigan Talent Partnership for Central Market & Main District

The City of Mount Pleasant is pursuing a Michigan Talent Partnership (MTP) grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to fund a place‑making package centered on downtown and the Central Market & Main District, Planning and Community Development Director Manuela Palodaico told the City Commission on Sept. 22.

Palodaico said the MTP program supports “transformational place‑making” to attract and retain talent through high‑density, mixed‑use development and public‑space upgrades. Mount Pleasant’s application centers on a district bounded roughly by Central Michigan University (south), Mission Street (east), Pickard Street (north) and Adams Street (west). Staff described a coalition of the city, local institutions and private developers that drafted a proposal titled the Central Market & Main District.

The coalition is asking for a suite of projects and up to $6,790,000 in funding in the MTP application. Key components described in Palodaico’s presentation:

- Farmers market pavilion and kitchen incubator: $3,500,000 requested to build a climate‑ and flood‑resilient pavilion with roll‑up doors and a small commercial kitchen incubator to support year‑round operations, vendor storage and rental kitchens for food businesses. - MMDC (Mid Michigan Development Corporation) incubator: $360,000 requested to help MMDC open a business incubator in the second story of their facility. - Downtown small‑kitchen support: $200,000 proposed as a pilot to subsidize kitchen renovations in existing downtown spaces to help local food businesses scale from food trucks/market stands to brick‑and‑mortar storefronts. - 200 East Broadway renovation: a $7,000,000 total project for a historic‑façade renovation and mixed‑use housing; the coalition requested $2,700,000 toward that project as part of the MTP application.

Palodaico said the application allows leveraging a wide variety of local projects as matching funds; she reported local match commitments raising the total claimed match well above the minimum and described support letters from local entities including a proposed new homeless shelter and private development plans. She said the city’s application team consulted MEDC and the MEDC’s “Neuromantic/REI” (consultant) team and was advised to ask for the full eligible award amount. Palodaico said staff has a draft application and would submit shortly — the posted application window was imminent.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about district boundaries, gap sites and priority redevelopment parcels such as vacant properties at Bellows and University and other “gateway” parcels. Palodaico said she had discussed inclusion of priority sites with property owners and the MEDC team and would add language to the application to highlight those parcels as redevelopment priorities.

Why it matters: if funded, the MTP award would underwrite construction of a permanent farmers market pavilion and kitchen incubator that could expand year‑round vendor activity, create business incubation space and incentivize new downtown housing — projects city staff said would support talent attraction and downtown vitality.

Ending: Palodaico said the application looked strong and staff would notify the commission if the final submission needed further action; commissioners expressed general support. No formal vote was required that evening.