Ironwood: A community ready for redevelopment

Ironwood, a small city in the far-western Upper Peninsula, has earned a state designation that will help encourage private investment and improve commercial and residential development opportunities.

The Gogebic County community of about 5,000 people has been designated a Redevelopment Ready Community by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The designation is a signal that the city has established a solid foundation to attract private investment and further build on municipality assets.

"We are very excited to have Ironwood officially designated as Certified Redevelopment Ready Community,” says Mayor Kim Corcoran. “Our economic development staff have worked very hard to streamline our development practices and to show that Ironwood is invested in taking the necessary steps to shape its own future.”

As a certified community, Ironwood will have access to new tools to implement its community development goals as well as ongoing support and technical assistance from the MEDC Redevelopment Ready Communities team. Annual check-ins and updates will help ensure the city continues implementing the best practices over time. Certification is active for five years before needing to be renewed.

What’s happening: In July, Ironwood was awarded the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification designation by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), indicating that the MEDC formally recognizes Ironwood as among an elite group of 73 Michigan communities, only six of which are located in the U.P. The status lets investors and development grant applicants know that the city is "thoroughly prepared" with planning and zoning to remove traditional barriers and promote opportunities for prospective investors. 

“It tells that outside developers or people who want to invest money here that (city officials) have already done a lot of the work,” says Michael Meyer,
director of the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce. “It's an official recognition that the community is ready to function at a higher level.”

What it means: As an RRC participant, Ironwood received a comprehensive assessment that measured current community and economic development practices compared to best practice standards. Certified communities integrate transparency, predictability, and efficiency into economic development practices. Certification status is a compelling indicator that a community has streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive to investors.

Meyer likens the status to a trail marker in the forest, assuring travelers they won’t encounter fallen trees, quicksand or landslides after they embark. “Before we were more or less in the wilderness,” Meyer says. “Someone would come and look at us and there're trees laying here and there's a mud hole there and, well, we can't go very far, can we? But now that the trail has been cleared and the brush has been picked up — ‘Oh, we can go there.’”

Typical obstacles to redevelopment could range from outdated zoning classifications to cumbersome ordinances.

How it helps: Ironwood residents may not see any difference in their day-to-day lives, but the designation is great news for their city. “It is meant to attract developers of all levels,” says Tom Berman, community development director for Ironwood. “We are currently working on a strategic housing plan that will meet developers where they are — whether they are seasoned developers that have a number of large projects or a local business trying to make that step into the housing development world. We want to be able to support all stages.”

"Our mission at MEDC is to support Michigan's strong economic momentum and empower communities to establish a strong planning, zoning and economic development foundation," says Michele Wildman, MEDC executive vice president of economic development incentives and services. "The city of Ironwood is well-positioned to continue to implement their vision for the future and further improve the quality of life for its residents. We look forward to building upon our relationship with the village and supporting local economic development efforts."

What people are saying: City leaders are delighted at the outcome of their hard work.

"I am proud of all of the efforts that our Community Development staff have put in to accomplish Redevelopment Ready Community status," says City Manager Paul Anderson. "RRC has helped the City develop streamlined internal processes, a functional and user-friendly zoning ordinance, and an efficient regulation process to make it easier to develop in Ironwood. We look forward to the opportunities that come with being certified as a Redevelopment Ready Community."

Bergman says he feels the designation “is a pretty big deal for ironwood. It shows that we are able to provide opportunities to developers and our citizens on a level that is more common for larger communities. 

What’s next: Bergman says that while there is not yet a specific project for which this designation will pave the way, “we hope it will create a more effective environment for attracting new development.”

Meyer agrees that the designation signals “a general awareness that Ironwood has grown up and made these changes. “Our trail is ready for people, for families, to get out and walk on,” he says. “It’s fantastic.”

Rosemary Parker has worked as a writer and editor for more than 40 years. She is a regular contributor to UPword Michigan, Rural Innovation Exchange and other Issue Media Group publications.