In the first project, Fort Saginaw LLC will redevelop the formerIppel Building at the corner of Court Street and Michigan Avenue ina $5-million project. The new 48,000-sf mixed-use building willcontain office and retail space, including an oyster bar, coffeeshop and bakery. Saginaw County will use a $222,500 CommunityDevelopment Block Grant to strengthen the basement walls of thebuilding in preparation for redevelopment. The project is expectedto create 50 new jobs.

Also Downtown, Denha Foodland Corp. plans to redevelop andexpand its existing supermarket located at 1122 E. Genesee at acost of about $1.6 million. To support the project, Saginaw Countywill use a $153,761 CDBG grant for demolition, street and curbimprovements and site preparation for construction of a 30,000-sfbuilding. The project is expected to result in 27 new jobs.

"This is a great example of cooperation between the County ofSaginaw, City of Saginaw and State of Michigan to revitalize areasof the city that we have targeted for investment," says the city'sinterim city manager Cecil A. Collins, Jr. "Projects such as theseare further evidence of the turnaround taking place in our city. Wetruly appreciate the governor's focus on redeveloping core citieslike Saginaw."