State Rep. Matt Lori last week announced a grant to eliminate blight in downtown Dowagiac by funding rehabilitation of a historic building into a movie theater and residential units.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved the $171,005 Community Development Block Grant enabling a local firm to rehabilitate the building, located at 115 S. Front St.
The building is currently in foreclosure and owned by Decatur State Bank. The grant will enable Forest Finn LLC to purchase and rehabilitate the building. The City of Dowagiac’s USDA revolving loan fund will help finance $50,000 of the project.