Racine has secured several grants totaling $170,000 for the Machinery Row development project, River Bend Nature Center in Caledonia, and Myers Park.

The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, which seeks to keep and improve access to Wisconsin’s Great Lakes Coasts, is part of the state’s Department of Administration.

The state dollars will pay for three projects: $100,000 to Machinery Row for infrastructure and planning, $55,000 to the City Health Department for cleaning up Myers Park, and $16,000 to River Bend Nature Center for its Great Lakes education program.

Machinery Row is a retail and apartment development project along the Root River in the 900 block of Water Street.

Financial District Properties, a commercial real estate  development company based in Davenport, Iowa, plans to develop the 20-acre multi-parcel site. The first phase represents $42 million of the $65 million project.

Mayor John Dickert has been a member of the Wisconsin Coastal Management program for five years.

“I want to thank the WCMP for their support of our community, it isn’t just funding, but a vote of confidence for the future of Racine.” Dickert said. “It’s vital to have strong partnerships and with the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, we have one.”

Denise Lockwood has an extensive background in traditional and non-traditional media. She has written for Patch.com, the Milwaukee Business Journal, Milwaukee Magazine and the Kenosha News.