"Last fall, I issued a challenge to this region: tell me what stategovernment can do to help you jump-start your economy, improve your schools,and strengthen your health care system," said Gov. Jennifer Granholm. "Whena region shows the initiative to help itself, to reinvent itself, and tore-market itself as a magnet region - a place that wants and welcomes newjobs, new businesses, and new residents - this administration is on board110%."

She said the state can set aside a $500,000 Core Communities Fund grant tosupport redevelopment of the Buick City site. The grant will supportengineering, design and infrastructure preparations that will jump-start thenation's largest industrial Brownfield redevelopment project.

The plant was the first acquired and operated by GM, and later earned thename Buick City for Flint. The last Buick left the Flint plant in 1999.At one time, the 340-acre factory site had 15,000 workers. Now, the old,five-million-sf buildings are due to be demolished over a 16-month period.