Galesburg gets major development grant

GALESBURG, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Despite tough times, the State of Michigan is spending money to develop one small city in West Michigan, and it is the largest amount that will be spent this year for community development.

The City of Galesburg is going to get a face-lift thanks to a community development grant from the state.

Admittedly, Galesburg may not have the grandest downtown, but it's one that tugs at the heartstrings of residents, so getting over $600,000 to fix the roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and otherwise beautify downtown through a grant is welcome.

Galesburg residents found out about the grant on Friday when they were presented with the largest amount of money the Michigan Economic Development Corporation will give out for community development this year, and with plans in place to fix up downtown, it's money that's welcome.

"Especially in these economic times, we look at the Detroits, and Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoos, and a lot of times our focus is there, based on creating jobs for big companies, but at the end of the day these smaller communities provide jobs to Michigan residents and we're just trying to support them," said Kathy Czarneck of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

"My whole goal when I started this was, is that it would mushroom into something that everybody would jump onto and see that we were doing something for the city," said Galesburg Mayor Gary Allen, "and that's what it's all about, doing something for everybody in the city, and the city doesn't do it for just the city residents, it's the whole community."

Mayor Allen admits that there's little chance any work would have gotten done in downtown without help from the state and federal government. His hope is to make things change downtown and attract businesses back.

The downtown project is not being funded with just state money, Galesburg will be paying for part of the project as well.