WEDC approves brownfield subgrant to Wayne County Regional Land Bank for 24 Church Street remediation

The WEDC Board on March 4 approved a resolution authorizing a brownfield revolving loan fund subgrant to the Wayne County Regional Land Bank to support remediation and redevelopment of 24 Church Street in Lyons. Kaye Stone‑Gansz, the board secretary, moved approval and Amanda McDonald seconded; Chair David Fantuzzo recorded that "All present approved."

Deputy Director Katie Bronson told the board that "this subgrant is driven by program income from the brownfield revolving loan program," and that the Loan Review Committee reviewed the project on March 3 and recommended approval. Kaleigh Flynn of the Wayne County Land Bank introduced the site, saying the Land Bank purchased the property in 2024 after it had been vacant "for approximately 30 years" and described the effort as an attempt to salvage and redevelop the anchor building. Flynn said the project aims to be fully redeveloped by the end of 2027 and estimated total costs at $1,000,000.

Board members pressed for funding details. Stone‑Gansz asked about total project costs and secured funding; Flynn said the Land Bank has about $250,000 in Land Bank Initiative Funds and that "if the subgrant is approved, the project will have secured approximately $450,000," with an additional pending application for more Land Bank Initiative Funds. County Administrator Mark Humbert asked whether the project would help the county apply for supplemental funds; Bronson answered that "to apply for additional supplemental funding for the Brownfield program the organization needs to show that program income has been committed to an additional project."

The meeting adjourned at 1:16 PM. The board listed the next meeting as March 24, 2026 at 9:10 AM.