Look for the city of Ishpeming to put to good use revenue from a federal grant, removing blighted residential structures.

The city, in partnership with the Marquette County Land Bank, was recently notified that it had been awarded $250,000 from the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Nonprofit Housing Corp., working in collaboration with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The funds originate from the U.S. Department of Treasury under its Hardest Hit Fund program, an initiative geared toward stemming the tide of home foreclosures.

Ishpeming was one of 10 cities and counties in Michigan to receive more than $11.7 million in blight elimination funds under a competitive judging process.

Like a lot of places in Marquette County and, indeed, the Upper Peninsula, the city of Ishpeming hosts more than its share of blighted residential structures, remnants of a more populous past. The problem is, razing the structures, which are often brimming with unpleasant materials such as lead and asbestos, poses significant cost challenges.

“Our tight budget does not allow for the demolition of these blighted structures,” Ishpeming City Manager Mark Slown, said for a Mining Journal story. “Without this important help, the quality of life in our community would continue to decline. With this help we see hope to stabilize property values, improve safety and clean up blight.”

We trust the city and county will wisely administer these funds and get the best bang for the buck. If they do, everyone benefits.

Mining Journal (Marquette)