Historic Tax Credits
$5.5 Million
Federal HTCs
New Markets Tax Credits
$7 Million
Total Project Cost
$34 Million
Project Partner
Micah 6 Community
Impact
Workforce Development, Healthcare Access, and more.
History
Education in an Automotive Town
The historic 54,000 square-foot Webster School opened in 1921 to support Pontiac’s population boom as tens of thousands flocked from the south to work in the rapidly growing automotive manufacturing industry that originally put the city on the map. The building was designed by Perkins, Fellows, and Hamilton, who were known for going over budget to create particularly ornate architectural designs and responsible for other local landmarks such as Lincoln Park Zoo. It originally featured 26 classrooms, a combination gym and auditorium, and an ornate foyer, all on five acres of land.
Originally an all-white school, Webster was desegregated in the 1970s and one of several schools made to participate in a bussing program after a historic lawsuit between the NAACP and the local school district. Already in a population decline as residents moved from the aging city center, the school was eventually closed in 2008 after nearly 90 years of operation.
It sat vacant for over 10 years until Micah 6 Community, the project sponsor, purchased the building in 2016 to serve as the new location for the mixed-use community-centered nonprofit hub.
Revitalization Efforts
A New Era Begins
The project is spearheaded by Micah 6 Community, a neighborhood-based community development corporation founded in 2012 with a mission to provide resources to address community challenges such as a lack of access to healthy food access, youth activities, and resources for unhoused individuals.
Once complete, the historic building will become the Webster Community Center, a vibrant ecosystem of over a dozen nonprofit and service-oriented organizations all dedicated to providing critical resources to children and families. Micah 6 Community has four primary areas of focus, all of which will be supported within the revitalized Webster Community Center: Entrepreneurship, arts and culture, youth activities, and health and wellness.
Community Impact
Creation of a Neighborhood Hub
The development of the Webster Community Center will collocate a dozen service and development providers and increase access to quality food, primary medical care, and job training for nearly 12,000 people each year, with an estimated 160,000 unique annual visits.
The HeadStart program will provide 360 low-income children with quality pre-k care, and the various afterschool programs will support more than 1,000 children each year. The business incubator estimates 32 program participants annually, over half of which will be Minority Business Enterprises (MBE). Once operational, the FQHC is estimated to support nearly 7,000 low-income people and families each year.
Quality Pre-School
For 360 low-income children
Healthcare Center
to support 7,000 low-income people each year
Business Incubator
Supporting 32 participants annually
Afterschool Programs
For more than 1,000 children each year
Areas of Focus
Entrepreneurship, arts & culture, youth activities, and health & wellness
NTCIC & Progress
Financing the Project
NTCIC facilitated an equity investment in the $5.5 million federal Historic Tax Credits generated by the $34 million historic development and provided a NMTC allocation of $7 million. Project financing also included more than $12 million in grants and donations from groups, including ARPA, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Environment Great Lakes & Energy,
showcasing overwhelming state and local support for the project. The successful capital campaign and NTCIC-sourced financing will enable the project to forgo long-term hard debt.
Over $17 million in additional NMTC allocation was provided by PNC Community Partners, Inc. and Michigan Community Capital.
Connect with Us
Curious About How Historic Tax Credit Investments Drive Real Impact?
Kandi Jackson leads tax credit investment activities with deep expertise in project finance, equity structuring, and compliance. When you speak with Kandi, expect clarity, honesty, and a clear roadmap for how your next investment can work in your portfolio.
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