The City of Allegan is proud to share that it has been selected to receive $2,000,000 in funding in the upcoming State budget to help rebuild Downtown Allegan’s infrastructure.
The securing of this $2,000,000 award was made possible by a multi-disciplinary team comprised of JP4 Government Solutions, Abonmarche Consultants, Inc., and City of Allegan staff working directly with State Senator Aric Nesbitt and State Representative Mary Whiteford.
“Our team of consultants and City staff have done an incredible job moving this project from just an idea in 2018 to a reality in a relatively short period of time for a project of this magnitude,” stated Mayor Delora Andrus. “The leadership of Senator Nesbitt and Representative Whiteford was key to getting us in this position to transform our downtown.”
State Senator Aric Nesbitt noted, “Downtown Allegan continues to improve because of strong local leaders, businesses, and dedicated residents.” He continued, “I was happy to help secure this funding that will enhance the downtown’s appeal to visitors, grow the downtown economy, and improve the quality of life for those who call Allegan home.”
Work began in 2018 to develop a plan to completely reconstruct the Downtown Allegan core. Over the past four years, City Councilmembers, Downtown Development Authority board members, Public Spaces Commissioners, and City of Allegan staff have worked to develop a shared vision with public input from Allegan residents, business owners, and stakeholders.
“Downtown Allegan has been experiencing a transformative change that has resulted in over 20 new businesses and over $8,000,000 in private investment in just five years. As entrepreneurs have discovered the downtown as a viable and exciting place to do business, it became apparent to the city that an improvement in its downtown infrastructure was key to keeping that momentum moving forward.”
Continued Joel Dye, City Manager, “We expect this next round of investment to spark new business opportunity, job creation, and residential living in our central business district. Given our location along the Kalamazoo River, easy access to the Allegan State Game Area and Lake Michigan, and proximity to larger metropolitan areas, Allegan is uniquely positioned to create a place that truly captures the goal of a live, work, play community.”
This state funding, coupled with the $250,000 received from the Federal Government with thanks to US Representative Fred Upton, will help implement the vision of a renewed downtown core beginning with the complete reconstruction of Brady, Hubbard, and Locust streets.
The transformed downtown will include new water and sewer mains, the removal of lead service lines, new roads, landscaping, streetlighting, wider sidewalks, traffic reconfiguration, and a new pedestrian plaza next to Minnie’s Restaurant. Extensive community input has been received, engineering work is completed, and construction will begin in 2023 and is expected to last 12-18 months.
