Cornerstone Alliance
38 W. Wall Steet, P.O. Box 428
Benton Harbor, MI 49023-0428
269.925.6100
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128 E. EMPIRE RENOVATION COMPLETE

The renovation of 128 E. Empire Avenue in the City of Benton Harbor was celebrated today with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The project is a partnership between Cornerstone Alliance, the Harbor Shores Local Business Consortium, Michigan Works! Youth Build program and Greenspan Construction.

Cornerstone Alliance Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Vaughn said, "As a part of Cornerstone Alliance's work on the Community Benefits Plan of the Harbor Shores project, we began discussing various housing projects. We identified the major arteries traveling through Benton Harbor and it was decided that the Empire Avenue Corridor was in desperate need of a facelift. That is why Cornerstone Alliance, the Harbor Shores Local Business Consortium and Michigan Works! Youth Build partnered to facilitate the rehabilitation of this home. The house features a new roof, windows, siding, furnace, electrical, plumbing, kitchens, bathrooms, walls and flooring throughout."

"An important goal of the work in the Empire Corridor is too increase homeownership in the City of Benton Harbor. It is our hope that by providing quality housing options to buyers, we will aid in creating more stable neighborhoods in the City of Benton Harbor," added Vaughn.

Cornerstone Alliance Project Manager Marshall Downs shared "We are very pleased with the final results of this project. It was a pleasure to be able to work with Michigan Works and the Youth Build on this initiative."

Downs added, "We will be conducting an Open House on Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 15, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Anyone interested in learning more about this great opportunity is encouraged to attend."

"A special thanks to Schroeder Furniture in St. Joseph for helping us by providing furniture for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and the Open Houses," said Downs.

About the Community Benefits Plan
The Harbor Shores' Community Benefits Plan will help individuals realize their potential, prepare residents for a competitive job market, offer our youth a future, and provide citizens with assistance in building that future. Cornerstone Alliance's work on the Community Benefits Plan includes working to include local contractors in the project as well as assisting in improving the housing stock available in the community.
About the Local Business Consortium
The Local Business Consortium (LBC) is a forum for including local businesses into the Harbor Shores project planning. The initial LBC membership reflects an emphasis on construction trades, with participation by established general contractors as well as subcontractors. Future plans call to expand the consortium to include local suppliers, retailers and service providers.

The LBC targets small businesses located within the communities impacted by the Harbor Shores development. Special emphasis is given to minority-owned and women-owned businesses, which face challenges to access to capital, training, equitable contracting prospects and joint venture and partnership opportunities. The LBC is establishing a program to create opportunities for these businesses to be delivered within two primary areas: contractor assistance and development and entrepreneurial small business development.