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Economic Development and Incentives

This document is available to view in PDF format. Summary of Commercial Business Incentives and Programs
This document is available to view in PDF format. Economic Development Administrative Fees Schedule

The City of Wyandotte has a long history of aggressively utilizing incentive programs and working closely with businesses to promote new investment and redevelopment. Incentives, programs, and resources available to assist in developing commercial property or opening a business are listed below.

Incentive Programs Available Through the City of Wyandotte

• Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA). OPRA provides an incentive to encourage the significant rehabilitation of older commercial buildings. Under the program, a portion of a property’s taxable value is “frozen” for up to 12 years at the pre-rehabilitation value, and new investment is taxed at a significantly lower rate, resulting in an annual property tax savings of 40%-60%.

• Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act (Act 381 of 1996, as amended). If a property is a “facility,” i.e. contains contaminated soil, or has buildings that are “obsolete” or “blighted,” a developer may be eligible for partial or full reimbursement of various expenses incurred in redeveloping the property , including demolition, public infrastructure, site preparation, and/or environmental investigation and remediation. A Brownfield Plan must be prepared in accordance with Act 381 and the City’s requirements.

• Michigan Business Tax (MBT) Credit. By preparing a Brownfield Redevelopment Plan and obtaining approval from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, 12.5%-20% of all eligible investment expenses on a project may be utilized as a credit against an owner’s MBT liability. Eligible expenses include construction, renovation and site improvements.

Michigan Business Tax Act
This document is available to view in PDF format. Michigan Business Tax Credit Program Summary

• Property Acquisition. The City, through its Downtown Development Authority and Tax Increment Finance Authority, can assist with the acquisition and assembly of land to facilitate business expansion and/or new development projects. Assistance can include the demolition of existing buildings, infrastructure improvements, and environmental testing and remediation expenses. For additional information, please contact: Kelly Roberts, Development Coordinator, at 734-324-4555 or kroberts@wyan.org

• 100% Personal Property Tax Exemption (Act 328 of 1998). The Act allows a 100% tax exemption for all new personal property purchased for certain types of businesses (generally industrial and professional office uses). The length of the exemption is determined by the Mayor and City Council and will depend on the number of jobs created, dollars invested, and other related criteria. The City’s current policy states that the exemption will only be granted in very specific instances, i.e., to vacant buildings exceeding 25,000 square feet or for particular uses, as noted in the City’s Act 328 Policy.

Resources For Other Types of Assistance

• Wyandotte Downtown Development Authority (DDA). The DDA provides programs, activities and services that improve and promote the downtown business district. The DDA was established in 1988 in accordance with Act No. 197 of the Public Acts of 1975. The DDA consists of a nine-¬member board and an executive director. For additional information, please contact the DDA office or visit their website.

• Wyandotte Business Association (WBA). The WBA is an association of more than 120 local businesses that meet every week to plan events promoting the City, coordinate advertising, and discuss issues concerning small businesses. Their office is located on the lower level of City Hall. For additional information, contact the WBA office at 734-324-4514 or wba@wyan.org or visit their website.

• Downriver Community Conference (DCC). The DCC, located in Southgate, has several programs to assist small businesses, including professional assistance with preparing a business plan. For additional information, please contact Paula Boase, Program Manager, at 734-362-3477 or paula@dccwf.org or visit their website.

• Wayne County One-Stop Business Resource Center (“One-Stop”). One-Stop, located in downtown Detroit, is Wayne County’s economic development agency and has a variety of resources and services available. For additional information visit their website.  An additional contact is Joan Brophy, Deputy Director of Business Development for Wayne County, at 313- 224-0820 or jbrophy@co.wayne.mi.us

• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The MEDC is the State of Michigan’s economic development agency and has a variety of resources available. For additional information, please visit their website.  The information under the “Products & Services” tab, titled “A-Z Programs,” provides information regarding many programs, including tax incentive and small business loan programs.

It should be noted that all of the incentive programs available from the City have application fees and require approval from the City Council and other local boards or commissions, and may require final approval from the State of Michigan. For the City to determine the incentives available and offered, each project may be evaluated on a number of criteria, including the nature of the business, estimated employment and wages, and investment in buildings, land improvements and equipment.

With the creative use of incentives and programs available through the City of Wyandotte, a developer or business owner can most-likely redevelop an existing building or develop vacant property in Wyandotte at a cost lower than any other site in the Downriver area. Further, through various organizations that the City partners with, existing or prospective business owners are able to access a variety of programs and services focusing on the needs of small businesses. Please contact the Community Development Department at 734-324-4541 if you have any questions or need any additional assistance.

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