By By JAN GRIFFEY / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Officials at work in downtown Niles say they have surpassed the halfway mark in their quest for job creation downtown.
Much of the work to renovate downtown, including the upcoming streetscape project, is being provided through funds from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
The funds are grant monies tied to the creation of jobs in the project area.
If 39 jobs are not created via the project, a portion of the grant will be converted to a loan, which must be repaid by the Niles Downtown Development Authority.
However, downtown officials said the city is well on its way to creating the much-needed 39 jobs.
Lisa Croteau of the DDA said to date 24 jobs have been created downtown -- more than 50 percent needed. And, downtown officials still have two years in which to create the remaining jobs.
Tim Batton, executive director of the Greater Niles Community Development Corp., expressed appreciation to officials at the Michigan Economic Development Corp.