Michigan Renaissance 

Michigan Architectural Renaissance and Small Town Revival Program (MARS-TRP)

The Michigan First Movement proudly presents the Michigan Architectural Renaissance and Small Town Revival Program (MARS-TRP), a visionary statewide initiative that leverages existing federal and state grant funding to spark a cultural and economic renaissance in Michigan’s built environment. This program focuses on revitalizing and constructing beautiful, walkable, classically inspired small American towns that attract, retain, and support young families and generational Michiganders.

MARS-TRP serves as a grant accelerator and design-support hub, helping local governments, developers, nonprofits, historic preservation groups, and community organizations successfully compete for and implement projects that blend timeless American architecture with modern livability.

Program Vision and Goals

MARS-TRP aims to create a Michigan Architectural Renaissance rooted in classic American design principles — New England village aesthetics, Midwestern main streets, courthouse squares, front porches, and human-scale neighborhoods. The program will:

• Preserve and restore historic small-town architecture.

• Build new traditional neighborhoods and towns that feel distinctly American.

• Attract and retain young people and families by creating desirable, affordable, family-oriented communities.

• Drive economic growth through tourism, local business, and increased property values.

• Strengthen generational prosperity by giving young Michiganders reasons to stay and build futures in their home state.

Strategic Alignment with Existing Grants

MARS-TRP is structured to align with numerous active funding sources:

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships, and Placemaking grants.

• Economic Development Administration (EDA) Public Works, Economic Adjustment, and Build to Scale programs.

• USDA Rural Development Community Facilities, Rural Housing, and Placemaking grants.

• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town and Design grants.

• National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund and Save America’s Treasures.

• Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and Michigan Community Development Block Grant programs.

Eligible Project Categories

The program provides broad flexibility to maximize grant eligibility while advancing a coherent renaissance vision:

1. Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse

• Restoration of historic courthouses, main streets, theaters, churches, and commercial buildings in small towns.

• Adaptive reuse projects that convert historic structures into housing, mixed-use spaces, or cultural anchors.

2. New Traditional Town and Neighborhood Development

• Master-planned, classically inspired new neighborhoods and small town expansions featuring walkable streets, front porches, parks, and human-scale design.

• Infill development and new construction that respects traditional American architectural styles (e.g., Georgian, Victorian, Craftsman, Midwestern vernacular).

3. Housing for Young Families

• Development of attainable family housing in traditional styles — single-family homes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units.

• Mixed-income projects that prioritize young families, multi-generational living, and first-time homebuyers.

4. Downtown and Public Space Revival

• Streetscape improvements, pocket parks, bandstands, farmers markets, and civic squares that create vibrant gathering places.

• Infrastructure that supports small business growth and tourism in revitalized small towns.

5. Design, Planning, and Youth Retention

• Charrettes, master plans, and architectural competitions emphasizing classical and traditional American design.

• Workforce training in historic trades, architecture, construction, and placemaking to build local talent pipelines for young people.

Program Features Designed for Grant Success

• Architectural Excellence with Flexibility: Projects must demonstrate commitment to timeless American design principles while remaining adaptable to specific grant criteria.

• Technical Assistance Hub: Professional support including architectural guidance, grant writing, historic tax credit applications, design review, and project management — with priority for small towns and rural communities.

• Family and Generational Focus: Strong preference for projects that create housing and amenities attractive to young families and multi-generational households.

• Equity and Inclusion: Outreach to ensure smaller communities and under-resourced areas can participate, aligning with federal rural and placemaking priorities.

• Transparency and Metrics: Tracking of key outcomes such as housing units created, businesses opened, population retention/growth of young adults, tourism revenue, and design quality assessments.

Expected Outcomes

• A visible Michigan Architectural Renaissance that celebrates classic American town design.

• Increased numbers of vibrant, walkable small towns that attract and retain young people and families.

• Growth in housing supply, local economies, property values, and tax bases.

• Stronger sense of place, community pride, and cultural continuity for generational Michiganders.

• Long-term economic multipliers through tourism, construction, and small business activity.

The Michigan Architectural Renaissance and Small Town Revival Program transforms available public resources into beautiful, livable, and enduring communities that give young Michiganders compelling reasons to build their futures at home. By honoring timeless American architectural traditions while embracing innovation in livability, MARS-TRP lays the foundation for a stronger, prouder, and more prosperous Michigan.

Local governments, developers, historic societies, and community organizations are invited to partner with the Michigan First Movement to access technical assistance and funding opportunities through MARS-TRP.

Reviving Timeless American Towns. Building a Renaissance for Michigan’s Young Families and Future Generations.