Michigan MEDC Grant Funds Boston Square Apartment Project As Grand Rapids Pursues $25 Million Mixed-Use Development

State Funding Supports Mixed-Income Housing in Boston Square Neighborhood

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on March 31, 2026 that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation would provide a $1.3 million grant to support a new mixed-use development in Grand Rapids Boston Square neighborhood. The funding comes through the bipartisan Revitalization and Placemaking program and will help create 45 new apartments alongside community and commercial space.

The project, known as F3, is part of Boston Square Together, a comprehensive 10-acre neighborhood revitalization plan that aims to increase housing, create business opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and add public amenities to the community.

$25.5 Million Total Investment

The MEDC $1.3 million grant will assist with costs associated with construction and site conditions, bringing a total anticipated capital investment of $25,537,050 to the project. The City of Grand Rapids is providing an additional $400,000 in HOME grant funding to support the phase.

The development will be a four-story mixed-use building on approximately 1.3 acres, creating:

• 45 new mixed-income apartments
• 9,410 square feet of commercial space
• 9,048 square feet of public space

The project is being developed by BSQ Together I LDHA, LLC, a development entity of Brinshore Development, LLC. Brinshore is one of the nation's largest and most successful firms specializing in affordable and mixed-income housing development, founded in 1994.

Community Partnership Model

Founded in 2018, Amplify GR is the nonprofit organization leading the project. The organization invests in securing economic pathways for residents of designated neighborhoods in Grand Rapids and utilizes a holistic approach to community partnership and revitalization modeled after Purpose Built Communities, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Atlanta.

Boston Square Together is a partnership between the city of Grand Rapids, Amplify GR, the Boston Square Neighborhood Association and Oakdale Neighbors. The plan was adopted by the Grand Rapids City Commission in 2019.

What Partners Say

Jon Ippel, executive director at Amplify GR, stated the F3 project reflects the kind of catalytic investment Boston Square Together was designed to advance, aligning community vision with strategic investments to create lasting impact.

Through our partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and support from the Revitalization and Placemaking Grant, Amplify GR is partnering with the community to widen pathways so more neighbors participate in and benefit from neighborhood growth through expanded access to housing and business ownership opportunities. This collaboration is helping ensure the momentum we are building translates into inclusive economic opportunity and a stronger, more vibrant Boston Square.

Sarah Rainero, economic development director for the City of Grand Rapids, added state investment is critical to moving projects across the finish line. It is rewarding to see the vibrancy these dollars spark. The newest construction project for Amplify GR at Boston Square builds on the strong momentum of neighborhood revitalization already underway and the F3 project reflects our shared commitment to expanding housing opportunities, strengthening neighborhoods, and supporting thoughtful, inclusive growth in Grand Rapids.

Part of Larger Revitalization Effort

The Boston Square grant announcement came alongside similar funding for Downtown Saline. The MEDC also awarded a $1.5 million RAP grant for a mixed-use development featuring four two-story residential apartments and commercial space at Murphy's Crossing.

Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, a Democrat from Grand Rapids, praised the investment as the kind of smart, place-based investment that helps turn a neighbor-informed community vision into tangible progress. This investment means more housing, more room for local small businesses, and more welcoming public spaces, strengthening the fabric of the Boston Square community, fostering long-term opportunity, and ensuring more families put down roots, connect, and thrive right here in Grand Rapids.

State Rep. Kristian Grant, also a Democrat from Grand Rapids, noted the area is facing a real housing shortage and the answer is to build with purpose. This project brings new homes, new businesses and new energy to Boston Square. A home is where people find stability, raise their children and begin to build a future. That is what makes this work so important, and how we ensure Grand Rapids continues to grow in a way that is inclusive, vibrant and built to last.

Part of Make It in Michigan Strategy

MEDC Senior Vice President Michele Wildman, who oversees Community Planning and Development Readiness, stated the MEDC is proud to support the growth and resilience of communities like Grand Rapids and Saline as part of the state's Make It in Michigan economic development strategy. These projects will add critical housing and residential amenities, contributing to the vibrancy and economic activity in their communities.

The RAP program provides access to gap financing for place-based infrastructure development and real estate rehabilitation and development. Programs like RAP help build on progress, attract and retain talented workers, lower costs, build housing, and enrich communities.