DCC gets $1.6M grant; expands economic development, small business services

Back in August, the Downriver Community Conference was awarded a $1.6 million grant to help strengthen economic development in the region following the closure of two DTE coal-fired power plants along the riverfront.

The grant came from the Economic Development Administration for the Downriver Riverfront Communities Economic Recovery Implementation Project.

The focus area for the project is the five communities located between the two retired power plants: River Rouge, Ecorse, Wyandotte, Riverview, and Trenton, along the Jefferson Street corridor.

According to officials, the project has three main goals: create and staff a regional economic development office, develop a strategy for the redevelopment of industrial (brownfield) sites, and create a small business technical assistance program.

DCC leadership announced the hiring of two local professionals — Jazmine Danci and Joseph Gruber — as the first step of this project.

“I am grateful for Gov. (Gretchen) Whitmer’s support of this important project, as well as Congresswoman Debbie Dingell’s and State Representative Tullio Liberati’s,” said Jim Perry, executive director for the DCC. “What happens along the riverfront, and with the decommissioned power plant sites, truly impacts all of Downriver, and Southeast Michigan. We have lined up a phenomenal team to kick off our efforts and I am excited to see the work we’re going to do.”

He went on to say that Danci and Gruber have extensive experience in economic development and will be serving as economic development administrators in the newly expanded DCC Economic Development Department.

Danci has spent the majority of her career with the city of Romulus, holding various roles, including director of marketing and community development. She oversaw the city’s economic development efforts and served as the public information officer among other duties.

Most recently, Danci served as executive director of the Greater Romulus Chamber of Commerce for a year, where she increased membership by more than 20%, oversaw a rebranding process and transition to a new website, set core values and restructured board committees.

She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental sustainability.

Gruber has served the city of Wyandotte for the last seven years as executive director of its Downtown Development Authority.

In that time, he successfully completed dozens of public improvement projects, public art and placemaking programs.

Gruber has facilitated major real estate and economic development projects; launched one of Michigan’s first social districts in August 2020; and helped secure millions of dollars in grant funding for Wyandotte.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in human rights and a master’s degree in community development.

Danci and Gruber join John D’Addona, who is the current brownfield program manager for the DCC.

D’Addona has held the manager position for the last two years following the death of Paula Boase.

Prior to being appointed as manager, D’Addona was a consultant for the Downriver Area Brownfield Consortium since 2007.

The DCC Economic Development Team is meeting with elected officials and other partners at the local, county, state, and federal levels to align the 2021 DCC Strategic Plan moving forward.

One of the first priorities will be to develop a joint industrial/commercial site redevelopment master plan for the five-community corridor using an inclusive, community-driven strategy. Public meetings and opportunities for input will be announced as the program progresses.

Anyone looking for more information about the project or would like to know how to start or expand a business Downriver, can send an email to economicdevelopment@dccwf.org.

The Downriver Community Conference includes Allen Park, Brownstown Township, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile Township, Huron Township, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Riverview, Rockwood, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Woodhaven and Wyandotte.