By Andrew Cluley
Ypsilanti, MI – The director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth says he has total confidence that Ypsilanti has the strategy and grass roots support to make its cool cities effort a success.
David Hollister toured the Riverside Arts Center, the adjacent D-T-E building which will be the catalyst project, and the rest of Ypsilanti's downtown yesterday.
Hollister says Ypsilanti was chosen in part because of local efforts over the last decade to make the downtown an arts and entertainment area.
Ypsilanti officials will use the 100-thousand dollar cool cities grant to renovate the vacant D-T-E building into artist studio space, a gallery, and space to build sets for theater productions taking place in the Riverside Arts Center.
Hollister says he's confident that the city will leverage the cool cities grant into ten times that amount.