The State Land Bank has awarded a grant of more than $2.8 million for the renovation of buildings in Cassopolis and Marcellus.

The grant was awarded as part of the State Land Bank’s Blight Elimination Program, and will fund two projects: the rehabilitation of the former Cassopolis Village Hall, and the stabilization of two historic buildings that once housed The Tailgater in downtown Marcellus.

The Cass County Land Bank was awarded just over $2.8 million — $354,712 for the Marcellus project, and $2,482,950 for the Cassopolis project.

Cassopolis

Before the Village of Cassopolis relocated from its former home on Broadway to its new municipal complex a couple of blocks away, village leaders paid experts to determine how the building could be repurposed to create living spaces. The village then sold the building to a developer with the goal of creating apartments.

“Their business ness decisions led them in another direction, so it’s just been vacant for three years,” Cass Village Manager Emilie LaGrow said. “You hate to see that with any building in your community, especially a large, very visible piece in the downtown.”

The grant will allow the village to not only reacquire the property, but fund the rehabilitation of its top floor into up to eight apartments as well.

“The main floor is still in decent shape, so that could be easily turned back into commercial space,” LaGrow said. “The grant really is looking at funding exterior windows, rehabbing the upper roof, all of the HVAC system, things like that, and also creating the apartments and the housing on the second floor.

Marcellus

Plans for the aforementioned buildings in downtown Marcellus include repairing “extensive water damage,” and making the property sellable so that it can eventually house two commercial storefronts and up to four residential units.

Marcellus Economic Development Director Sarah Ayers says the investment into the historic buildings is critical to the long-term sustainability of the town.

“For me, it really indicates the importance of historic preservation, but also economic revitalization, which is critical in thinking about the long-term sustainability of our town,” Ayers said. “I couldn’t be happier to see these buildings and knowing that they’ll be on the main street for a long time to come.”

Marcellus Village Manager/Clerk Jacqueline Terrill said the key to the momentum happening throughout Cass County has been a change in mindset for the rural community that has historically struggled to compete with larger communities for grant funding at the state level.

“We have to stop having the idea that we can’t,” she said. “This is proof that, yes, we can. Ask for the world and you’ll get it.”