The City of Ithaca partners with Greater Gratiot Development, Inc (GGDI) for full-service economic development services. GGDI, established in 1978, is a private non-profit organization devoted to the retention, expansion, and attraction of business & industry in the Gratiot Community. City staff works closely with GGDI, making business startup, expansion, or re-location projects come together as seamlessly as possible.
The success of this economic development strategy can be seen throughout the area, where you will find a vibrant mix of high-technology industrial, agricultural, commercial, and professional businesses. Hosting two Michigan Certified Business Parks, two Michigan Tax-Free* Renaissance Sub-Zones, and a Professional Commerce Park, Ithaca has plenty of shovel-ready property suitable for almost any size project.
Industrial Parks & Renaissance Sub Zones
Ithaca Industrial Park
South Ithaca Industrial Park
Ithaca Commerce Park
Color Aerial Imagery of Ithaca (captured in Spring 2010)
The entire City of Ithaca was recently designated a Michigan Core Community and a Low-Mod Income Community, which enables developers to access a number of local and state incentives for redevelopment projects, focusing on (but not limited to) our historic downtown district.
A list of incentive programs offered through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation include the following (not all incentives will be applicable to individual projects -- call us to discuss your specific project):
Recent Success Stories Cartridges Are Us originally built an industrial facility in the South Ithaca Industrial Park in 2003. Five years later, the company had an opportunity to relocate inkjet operations from Mexico to another location in the U.S. With the help of state and local incentives, including a MEGA Award, the company decided to move its inkjet operations to Ithaca. To date the company has directly created over 225 additional local jobs.
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) offers a number of attractive incentives to communities to rehabilitate upper-story apartments in downtown areas.
Watch the following 10-minute video for an overview of the Rental Rehab Program:
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