Latest news with #PatriciaRandall
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Portage breaks grown on workforce housing development
PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) — Ground was broken Thursday on a new workforce housing development in Portage, the only project of its kind in the city. The $18.7 million Stanwood Crossings development is along Portage Road south of Lakeview Park. 'This housing development is a statement about our values as a city,' Mayor Patricia Randall said in a Friday statement. 'Stanwood Crossings helps ensure that hardworking individuals and families can live and thrive in the community they serve.' Construction on the first four homes should start this summer. The city says when the development is finished, it will include 42 single-family homes with either two or three bedrooms. They will specifically be for workforce families that make between 80% and 120% of the area median income. The project is supported by $3 million from the Kalamazoo County Homes for All Grant, $1 million in Congressional Community Project Funding, $1 million from the Portage Capital Improvement Program and $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act dollars granted by the county. There will also be $100,000 for down payment assistant through Kalamazoo County Homes for All. A Brownfield tax program could allow as much as $3.16 million in reimbursements over the next 25 years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Portage to mark 1 year since tornado with ceremony, focus on recovery
PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) — The city of Portage will hold a public ceremony Wednesday to mark one year since a tornado ripped through the community, causing widespread destruction. The gathering begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Celery Flats Pavilion. City leaders will speak, volunteers and recovery partners will be recognized and a moment of reflection will be held. Tree seedlings will be given away to symbolize renewal. Mayor Patricia Randall recalled the tornado's arrival on what had started as a beautiful day. Seconds after receiving a warning call from her father, sirens sounded. She lives close to where the EF2 tornado touched down and described the rapid response that followed. 'Very grateful': Couple recounts moments sheltering from 2024 Portage tornado 'I felt that we received a lot of support from the city of Kalamazoo and the county of Kalamazoo because 90% of the damage was done in our community,' Randall said. 'That's a good feeling to be a part of a neighborhood network.' City Hall became a hub for volunteer coordination. The state has since provided $3 million in disaster relief, including $1 million directed toward businesses. Portage's request for a major disaster declaration was denied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency The tornado brought down 48,000 trees, blocking roads and damaging homes and businesses. Randall said while much of the cleanup is done, ecological recovery is far from over. The historic nature of the May 7, 2024, tornado outbreak 'We're doing everything we can. Forty-eight thousand trees are a significant part of our canopy. We are a tree city. We value trees and all of the good that they bring to the environment and to our quality of life. So this will be a long journey,' she said. Fire risk from dead trees and efforts to restore habitats remain ongoing concerns. The city is now exploring the hire of a part-time emergency manager, since Randall said about a quarter of the municipal budget is set aside for crisis response. Wednesday's event is free and open to the public, rain or shine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
