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Crystal Mountain expansion presented to Benzie County as a 48‑job CDBG project; county warned RLF must be used by yearend
Summary
Venture North and Crystal Mountain officials told the Benzie County Board on May 12 that a Crystal Mountain expansion would create 48 new jobs and rely on county application for a CDBG (HUD) infrastructure grant; the board was advised the county's revolving loan fund (about $900,000) needs project activity by Dec. 31, 2015 or funds revert to HUD.
Venture North and Crystal Mountain officials briefed the Benzie County Board of Commissioners on May 12 about a proposed Crystal Mountain expansion that presenters said would create 48 new jobs and rely on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to pay public infrastructure costs.
Laura Galbraith, executive director of Venture North, explained that CDBG funds are federal funds administered through MEDC and must meet national objectives such as job creation. "Crystal Mountain will create 48 new jobs with this project," she told commissioners. She said the county would be the applicant for the CDBG application and that Crystal Mountain would cover any applicant-related costs; no county funding was requested at the meeting.
Chris MacInnes, chief operating officer of Crystal Mountain, described Phase II as the Inn at the Mountain project (about 27,000 square feet) with a 3,000-square-foot grocery space and mixed residential and commercial elements; the development team said it expects new retail and additional hotel rooms across upper floors. Venture North also noted the county's Revolving Loan Fund balance of roughly $900,000 must show project activity by Dec. 31, 2015 or the funds will return to HUD; Troy Terwilliger said Graceland Fruit has a project to augment bulk packaging at its Main Street plant that would use RLF resources.
Commissioners and staff took the presentation as informational; presenters did not request formal approval at the meeting and said they were awaiting an offer letter from MEDC. The county will be asked to act as applicant if the MEDC offer is received and terms are acceptable.
Next steps: the county awaits the MEDC offer letter and will need to address the Revolving Loan Fund activity deadline by yearend if projects are to use those funds.
