St. Joseph City Commissioners continue to pursue Redevelopment Ready City status for the community through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and to that end, they held a joint meeting this past week with the Downtown Development Authority and the Planning Commission.

Speaking at the joint session, St. Joe City Manager Emily Hackworth said the city has been seeking a Redevelopment Ready designation for several years. Getting that status would help the city with planning, zoning, and economic development through matching grants. However, getting certified isn’t easy.

“It is a really thorough process, and there are three levels of certification,” Hackworth said. “There’s Engaged, Essentials, and then ultimately, Certified.”

The city two years ago reached the Essentials level, which unlocked a $40,000 grant for it to work with Cornerstone Alliance on a marketing strategy. And then commissioners last month approved an economic development strategy for the city.

Cornerstone’s Andrew Haan said getting certified by the MEDC would make it clear the city is committed to attracting and allowing new development.

“You make it through the other, out the other side of this process, and it is easy, it’s consistent, it’s clear, and it’s transparent how to do work here,” Haan said. “And it sends a signal that counters some of the negative perceptions that St. Joe has had, fair or not.”

Haan said the city’s reputation as “St. No” is one of the challenges it faces. Others include a shortage of housing, a lack of experience with economic development, and not many available opportunities in the market.

Monday’s joint meeting was, in fact, one of the requirements the MEDC lays out for the city to be certified as Redevelopment Ready. Work will continue to keep checking those boxes on the MEDC’s list of requirements.