Building Communities & Campuses Through State Appropriations

Skyscrapers in Michigan

We get buildings built.

We have helped our client receive over $300 million in capital outlay and earmark funding since 2010. This includes universities, community colleges, nonprofits, and developers.

Life-changing education and research takes place in the buildings we helped finance. Take a look at our portfolio below.

Re-development of Old Federal Building in Grand Rapids

This $28.5 million project was a unique public-private partnership between our client, The Christman Company, the City of Grand Rapids, and Ferris State/Kendall College of Art and Design. We served as lead lobbyist in securing passage of a bill directing large-scale brownfield credits to the project to address a financing gap. READ MORE

Outside view of KCAD building

Wayne State University: Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research Building

Kelley Cawthorne helped obtain $30 million in state funding for a new Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research Building at Wayne State University. This was the school’s largest construction project to date. The nearly 200,00-square-foot building has space for approximately 500 researchers and staff and includes wet and dry laboratories, faculty offices, clinical space, and common areas. It is designed to encourage interdisciplinary work across a range of scientific areas, with the goal of translating new discoveries to improve human health and society.

WSU Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research Building

Re-development of BWL Power Plant in Lansing

We helped The Christman Company secure legislative tax credits to help finance this $180 million project. An abandoned power plant now serves as the national headquarters of a workers’ compensation insurer. The project also spurred the revitalization of the Grand River waterfront in downtown Lansing. READ MORE

Wayne State University: STEM Innovation Learning Center

We helped Wayne State University receive nearly $15 million in state capital outlay funding for their new STEM Innovation Learning Center. The approximately 100,000-square-foot building includes flexible classrooms, instructional labs, a maker space, 3D-printing lab, and a hub for K-12 outreach.

Outside of STEM Innovation Center

Wayne State University: Engineering Development Center

Working with Kelley Cawthorne, Wayne State University obtained $15 million in state capital outlay funding for its Engineering Development Center. The Center is used for both research and educational purposes, and it includes a high-performance computing lab and student design studios.

Outside of Marvin I. Danto Engineering Development Center

Lake Superior State University Center for Freshwater Research and Education

We helped secure nearly $9 million in state capital outlay funding for Lake Superior State University’s (LSSI) Center for Freshwater Research and Education. The new space allows students to receive hands-on experience in freshwater research and fish culture and provides space for public outreach, a K-12 discovery room, office space, research labs, and an outdoor educational park for the community.

Outside view of LSSU Center for Freshwater Research and Education

Henry Ford Community College Science Building

Kelley Cawthorne helped Henry Ford Community College receive its first state capital outlay project in nearly a decade by securing over $7 million in state funding for improvements to the community college’s science center.

Outside view of HFC Science building

Henry Ford Community College Entrepreneur and Innovation Institute Renovation

Working with Kelley Cawthorne, Henry Ford Community College obtained nearly $7 million in capital outlay funding for its new Entrepreneur and Innovation Institute, aimed at transforming students into highly skilled workers who are ready for employers’ needs. The Institute will benefit more than 3,200 students each year.

Northwestern Michigan Community College West Hall Innovation Center Renovation and Expansion

When Northwestern Michigan Community College (NMC) first approached us, this project had scored poorly under the state’s capital outlay evaluation criteria. We worked with NMC to adjust the project to better meet the state’s criteria. This led to a 50% state match for the school’s West Hall Innovation Center, transforming a 50-year-old building to create a 54,000-square-foot, multi-story library and flexible learning space.

Outside of NWMC Innovation Center

West Shore Community College Industrial Skills Center

Over $1 million in state funding for industrial skills center.

West Shore Community College New Student Learning Center

Nearly $4 million in state funding for new student learning center (50% state match).

Outside of WSCC Student Learning Center

North Central Michigan Community College Health Education and Science Center

North Central Michigan Community College received its first state capital outlay funding in nearly two decades, receiving a 50% match for its Health Education and Science Center project. The building houses facilities for biology, chemistry, science, physics, astronomy, nursing, and allied health instruction, as well as an attached greenhouse for instruction and experimentation.

Outside of NCMC Health Education and Science Center

West Shore Community College Arts & Sciences Center/Remodeling & Additions

Long-time client West Shore Community College received its second capital outlay funding appropriations from the state in three years with this project. The project received a 50% state match for the school’s Arts and Sciences Center, including a 279-seat theater and classrooms, faculty offices, biology, chemistry, and physics labs, conference rooms, a cadaver room, music rehearsal and practice rooms, art studios, and an art gallery.

Inside of WSCC Arts and Sciences Center

Lake Superior State University School of Business

Kelley Cawthorne worked with Lake Superior State University to obtain a 200% state share of capital outlay funding for the university’s Lukenda School of Business. The project overhauled a 32,000-square-foot former U.S. Army barracks constructed in the early 1900s. It added 12,000 square feet of space to bring an expanded café, new program rooms, and support space, including a securities trading lab and Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Outside of LSSU Stem Innovation Learning Center

Click the button below to email David Gregory and learn more about how we can help finance your next game-changing project.

The outside of a university campus