LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Joseph Bellino on Wednesday applauded the city of Adrian for earning an Essentials designation under the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) program.
“This is great news for the people of Adrian and for the entire region,” said Bellino, R-Monroe. “The Essentials designation recognizes Adrian and its local officials for their overall community vision and their efficient process to achieve important economic development. It is a positive step in bringing new opportunities and investment to Adrian.”
The RRC Program was launched statewide by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in 2013. It is a voluntary initiative that empowers communities to shape their future by building a foundation of planning, zoning, and economic development best practices and integrating them into their everyday functions. It promotes communities to be development ready and competitive in today’s economy by actively engaging stakeholders and proactively planning, making them more attractive for projects that create places where people want to live, work, and invest.
Based on feedback from communities and other stakeholders, MEDC evolved the program in 2021 to include two different designations: Essentials and Certified. Communities can now determine which path is most appropriate for their needs based on capacity, community goals, and other local factors. Reaching the RRC Essentials designation is a formal recognition that a community has a vision for the future and the fundamental practices in place to get there.
To achieve the Essentials designation, Adrian worked to incorporate all the key documents and practices to provide a predictable development experience and meet local planning and zoning responsibilities under Michigan law. This includes updating its comprehensive plan, adding a zoning map to its plan, and creating a strategic plan for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). In addition, the DDA adopted a training policy, and the city created a training strategy for its boards and commissions. The city’s efforts have produced high-quality documents and processes that will continue to generate value.
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