Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) - August 26, 2026

The City of Grand Rapids held a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) meeting on August 26, 2026, focusing primarily on economic development and brownfield redevelopment projects. Key procurement-related actions included the approval of a $1 million brownfield redevelopment grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for the Factory Yards redevelopment project, aimed at environmental remediation and site cleanup. The board also approved a work plan and development agreement for a scattered site housing redevelopment project by Slick Investments LLC, involving 24 residential townhomes with a construction cost of approximately $4.9 million. Additionally, the BRA approved several environmental site assessment grants for housing and infill development projects, and an amendment to a developer reimbursement agreement for Habitat for Humanity's Pleasant Hills project to provide property tax relief to a homeowner without financial loss to the developer. The board authorized issuing an RFP for legal services to formalize a long-term contract, with plans to review candidates in October. Discussions also covered emerging developer grants, potential partnerships with affordable housing funds, and the deployment of microloan funds to support small businesses, with an emphasis on coordinating funding sources and setting realistic timelines for program rollout. Staffing updates and recruitment efforts for economic development positions were also noted. No votes opposed the motions presented during the meeting.