Bath-DeWitt

Coming soon: a new and improved DeWitt

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By Shane Jones
Bath-DeWitt Connection Staff Reporter

DEWITT — Buildings in downtown DeWitt have been standing for many years, but the businesses have changed greatly. One building for example was once an old car dealership, now it is a restaurant. What was once a church, will now be a brewery. As time goes on, the city of DeWitt is trying to change from the small city that it is known for into more of a modern city. Each year, the city and township management are constantly trying to help the city grow.

Business & Economy

Eastwood Downtown Development Authority bond payments add up

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By Rachel Beard
Lansing Township News Staff Reporter

In order to develop commercial areas to their fullest potential, it is common for governments to rely on bonds to pay for these developments. Lansing Township is no exception. But at the end of the day – or fiscal year – who is responsible for paying off these bonds? “The DDA (Downtown Development Authority) pays all of the bond payments,” Lansing Township Treasurer Leo Rodgers said. “No bond payments are made from Lansing Township’s operating budget.”

What exactly does this mean?

Bath-DeWitt

Façade grant looks to update downtown DeWitt

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By Connor Clark
Bath-DeWitt Connection staff reporter

The City of DeWitt has a history that begins in 1833 when Capt. David Scott and his family first settled the area. Back then it was called Wabwahaseesee and was home to many Chippewa Native Americans. Fast forward to present-day DeWitt: the town still preserves a historic feel. With many historic homes and building still intact, the wear of time has started to show on its buildings. The Façade Grant Improvement Program has been assisting local businesses in the City of DeWitt for the past five years.

Lansing

Lansing Infrastructure: Can Proposal 1 Save It?

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By Emma-Jean Bedford
and Ian Wendrow 
Listen Up, Lansing

LANSING-The question on everyone’s mind lately has been: “What’s happening with these roads?” But it’s not just roads that are troublesome. Lansing has recently been dealing with issues related to low residential population, a distinct lack of diverse businesses, and overall deteriorating infrastructure. An effort to address infrastructure funding is currently on the upcoming May 5 ballot, titled Proposal 1. Proposal 1 is a ballot initiative meant to raise funds, mostly for new road work, through changes in taxes. If passed, the House Fiscal Agency, a non-partisan agency within the House of Representatives that analyzes the financial effects of Michigan legislation, estimates that the tax increase would raise about $2.1 billion this fiscal year; of which $1.23 billion would go towards roads, $463.1 million to the state’s general fund, $292.4 million to schools and $89.9 million to local governments.

Holt-Delhi Township

More new businesses choosing Delhi to set up shop

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By Josh Sidorowicz
Holt Journal staff writer

When Joe Garcia and his wife Erika opened their Snap Fitness gym, 2040 N. Aurelius Road, in December of last year they immediately recognized the appeal of the Holt-Delhi Township community. “I chose Holt because here I was able to put one of these fitness centers right in the neighborhood, right in the middle of Holt,” Joe said. “I wanted to create a neighborhood gym with a community feel and it’s straightforward and very easy to do business here.”

Since 2009, the number of new businesses in Delhi Township has doubled as the community continues to offer incentives and other various programs to attract business owners to the area. Unveiled at the Oct. 4 Delhi Township Board of Trustees meeting, the Municipal Performance Dashboard—which includes data regarding the township’s fiscal stability, quality of life and economic strength—showed a steady increase in the number of new businesses opening up in the township from 10 new businesses in 2009 to 20 new businesses in 2010.