Traverse City Grant Boosts Affordable Cottages Project in Frankfort
A $50,000 grant from Rotary Charities of Traverse City will help finish infrastructure and shared amenities for the Cottages at Corning in Frankfort, a four home development aimed at working households. The funding supports long term affordability and regional resilience, offering local families more stable housing options with potential benefits for health and community wellbeing.
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The Housing Trust of Benzie announced on November 28, 2025 that it received a $50,000 grant from Rotary Charities of Traverse City through the Assets for Thriving Communities program to support the Cottages at Corning development in Frankfort. The grant will fund completion of driveways, sidewalks, landscaping and a shared pavilion for four new two bedroom homes intended for working individuals and families earning between 60 percent and 120 percent of Benzie County's area median income.
Site work is under way and the homes are expected to be ready for purchase by summer 2026. The Housing Trust said the units will be priced below market, with estimates around $210,000 to $224,000, to ensure long term affordability for buyers. In the same release the organization announced two new board members, Bree McGregor and Stephanie Williams, signaling governance growth as the project moves toward completion.
Although the cottages are located in Benzie County, the Traverse City based grantmaker has a regional focus that makes the award relevant to Grand Traverse County audiences. Rotary Charities of Traverse City aims to support community assets across northwest Michigan, and investments in nearby affordable housing can influence housing markets, commute patterns and social supports across county lines.
Affordable homeownership projects like the Cottages at Corning carry public health implications. Stable housing reduces stress, improves access to primary care and helps families maintain employment, all of which affect community health outcomes. For Grand Traverse County residents who work in neighboring Benzie County or who face similar affordability pressures, the project may ease regional housing demand and serve as a model for small scale, locally rooted affordable housing development.
The grant is a targeted contribution to finishing site amenities that make the development functional and welcoming. As construction progresses, local planners and health advocates will be watching whether the homes meet demand for attainable ownership and whether similar public private support can be mobilized to expand affordable housing options across the region.
