Genesee County, MI – The Genesee County Land Bank Authority is advancing an ambitious housing rehabilitation strategy with plans to deliver 125 renovated homes over four years, creating affordable and market-rate homeownership opportunities while strengthening neighborhoods across Genesee County.

The initiative, called Renovate Genesee (or RenGen Housing) builds on a successful pilot year that wraps up in September. Fueled by $1.125 million from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Land Bank has already renovated 13 homes and is working on an additional 13 affordable and market rate homes in Flint and Genesee County. The homes will be sold to income-qualified households.

“The pilot year demonstrates that we have successfully built the organizational capacity necessary to scale housing rehabilitation in Genesee County,” said Sam Muma, Genesee County Land Bank Board Chair and Genesee County Treasurer. “We are no longer operating a small rehabilitation program — we are creating a housing production system capable of delivering quality homes at a scale that can meaningfully impact neighborhoods and housing availability.”

This initial phase represents a significant expansion of the Land Bank’s housing production efforts and demonstrates the effectiveness of new systems and staffing investments designed to support long-term growth.

Commissioner Gary Goetzinger, Vice Chairman of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, spoke at an event marking the official launch of the program on Tuesday.

“The Board of Commissioners desires not only to lead major initiatives that have a positive impact on our residents, but also to support organizations that are doing the work of strengthening our communities every day,” he said. “The RenGen Housing initiative creates new avenues to affordable ownership while helping stabilize neighborhoods now and into the future.”

Historically, the Land Bank renovated six to nine former tax-foreclosed houses annually. In response to growing housing needs across the community, the Land Bank established a new Construction and Development Department and is investing in the project management systems, contractor relationships, development processes, and staffing required to scale production. These investments have enabled the Land Bank to increase annual renovation activity more than fourfold and create a platform for sustained housing development.

“Our goal is to unlock homeownership opportunities for residents in Flint and Genesee County while bringing stability back to our neighborhoods,” said Land Bank executive director Michael Freeman. “Our vision is to build ‘complete streets.’ Too often, we see a beautifully maintained street marred by a single foreclosed property. We want to transform those individual eyesores into some of the nicest homes on the block.”

The Land Bank is working to secure $6 million in funding needed to renovate approximately 100 more homes over the next three years, bringing the four-year total to 125 renovated homes. Plans include a mix of market rate homes that will be rehabilitated and sold without direct subsidy and affordable homes that will be sold to income-qualified households and supported through targeted subsidy investments.

These upfront investments will provide the working capital needed to advance rehabilitation projects, while proceeds generated from market-rate home sales will be reinvested into a revolving development fund that supports future housing production and reduces reliance on subsidy.

“By combining affordable housing development, market-rate rehabilitation, and a sustainable reinvestment strategy, the Land Bank is creating a scalable model for neighborhood revitalization that will return vacant and distressed properties to productive use, expand homeownership opportunities, and strengthen communities throughout Genesee County,” Freeman said.

About the Genesee County Land Bank

The Genesee County Land Bank Authority (GCLBA) is the first modern Land Bank of its kind in the United States. Founded in 2004, the Land Bank is a governmental organization with the mission of restoring value to the community by acquiring, developing, and selling vacant and abandoned properties in cooperation with stakeholders who value responsible land ownership.

The Land Bank’s programs help to eliminate blight, promote affordable homeownership, create economic opportunities, activate vacant land, and engage the community in a variety of ways. Learn more at thelandbank.org or follow the Land Bank on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for the latest updates.