MONROE COUNTY, Mich. —
A grant was awarded to help bring more development to Monroe County.
The Monroe County Business Alliance (MCBA) was recently awarded $82,000 through the Strategic Site Readiness Program. MCBA received one of 18 grants awarded out of 72 applicants.
The grant will be used to prepare 143.25 acres of land southwest of Sterns Road and Dixie Highway in Erie and Bedford townships. Money can be used for site preparation through surveying, soil boring and any necessary engineering.
"It's designed to take a site or a property and prepare it in the best way possible for a potential end user to come and place their business in that site," MCBA Vice President of Economic Development Sean Strube said.
The goal is to make the land more attractive to businesses that may not have initially considered the location.
"When a potential business does see the site, there's no question of anything that needs to be done to it. It's either a yes or a no," Strube said.
The location is zoned for industrial development and has never been previously developed. It has access to water, a natural gas line and direct access to the CSX railroad.
"It's close to a freeway," Strube said. "It's just over the border. You've got Detroit and Toledo as markets that are easily accessible. You've got the Port of Monroe right there."
Once surveying is finished, it will be available to purchase. This offer would then go to Erie and Bedford townships to be finalized.
Michael Grodi, supervisor of Erie Township, said he wants to see businesses come to the area and make it a collaborative effort.
"I think the township prides itself on being a township that's easy to work with when it comes to business coming in and developing within the township.," Grodi said.
Surveying and preparations should be finished by the end of 2024.
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