The goal is to streamline the administrative process that developers encounter when planning projects, says Conan Smith, executive director of the alliance. Maxine Berman, director of special projects for Gov. Jennifer Granholm and a member of the redevelopment-ready committee, says the certification will signal to developers "that there's a transparent process; that it's going to be much faster, much cleaner."

The plan is, according to Smith, to get each of the pilot communities certified by the end of the year. Berman said the state has put $225,000 into the redevelopment-ready project, through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Detroit-based Hamilton Anderson Associates and former Southfield city administrator Don Gross have been hired to assist the communities.

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