Artist Village and Detroit Blight Busters have received a $1 million state grant for their new project, the Sunflower Arts Center. Announced by State Sen. Mary Cavanagh at Detroit's first Arts Alley event, the grant will help transform a former Woolworth store into a community arts center. The Sunflower Arts Center will include retail spaces, a live entertainment venue, a diner, and affordable live/work spaces for artists. "It's an honor to help craft a budget that supports diverse communities like ours," Cavanagh said, according to the City of Detroit.
Detroit is getting a $5 million boost through the mayor's Blight to Beauty initiative to help improve the city’s appearance and attract more people. Interim Police Chief Todd Bettison praised the city’s unique qualities, saying, "When you think about an iconic city like the city of Detroit, what is it that makes this special? It is the history. It’s the culture. It is the people and art that represents the people." The project will create a 20,000-square-foot building with a performing arts space, retail shops, a diner, and seven apartments. Funding includes a $1 million private donation, with more state, federal, and philanthropic support expected, as stated by the City of Detroit.
The development at 21728 Grand River Avenue is part of a plan to improve the area, alongside projects like the Artist Village, the Pace Medical facility, and a new affordable apartment complex. Rochelle Riley, Detroit's Director of Arts and Culture, sees it as a way to boost the city's creative economy. The project is funded by $5.4 million from the American Rescue Plan, plus support from the Kresge and Ford foundations, as reported by the City of Detroit.
