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We are excited to welcome Lynda Tran, Tyrone Rachal, and Mary Helmer Wirth to the Main Street America Board of Directors
Founded in 2003 and currently housed within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan Main Street (MMS) has provided technical assistance, training, and development to 41 communities in the state, realizing $445.6 million of total economic impact and supporting over 4,000 jobs with a total cumulative state tax revenue of $8.8 million.
Through training, technical assistance, and leadership, MMS works directly with local Main Streets to strategize for vibrant communities, deploy best practices and creative approaches for downtown enhancement, and celebrate the unique qualities and experiences of each community.
As the program has grown and gained success, MMS has created new approaches for supporting our communities, including tracking and monitoring key performance metrics for program development, offering direct investment for downtown improvement—such as MEDC’s Match On Main, Main Street Vibrancy, and Optimize Main Street grant programs for business growth and retention—and amplifying the impact of MMS programs through storytelling. Launched in 2022, our Michigan Main Street Story Series showcases the transformative power of the Main Street network throughout the state and celebrates the unique stories of the people that are the heartbeat of Michigan’s downtowns and traditional commercial districts.
20 Years of Community Impact
This year, Michigan Main Street worked closely with Jon Stover & Associates to produce an in-depth study on the impact of Main Street programming in Michigan over the last 20 years, assessing its value in three core areas: social, fiscal, and economic.
This study found that Michigan Main Street has had a significant impact in the state, with 851,890 volunteer hours served in Michigan communities since 2003 at a value of $25.7 million. The study also found that MMS has demonstrated national leadership in placemaking, entrepreneurial ecosystem building, preservation, and investment, and that it’s economic development work has completely transformed communities across the state, including generating 2,150 new jobs and $239.6 million in direct economic impact for small businesses. The full report can be read here.
“Having great partners out there willing to be innovative, creative, and lead the field is really important to our movement,” said Matt Wagner, Ph.D., Chief Program Officer at Main Street America. “Michigan Main Street has always been right by our side and able to do that–to pilot things within the community and think ahead about what’s coming next.”
Honoring Boyne City
This year is also an important anniversary for Boyne City, one of the four original Main Street communities in Michigan. The town received national recognition when it was awarded the prestigious Great American Main Street Award in 2020, after being named as a semifinalist in 2011 and 2019.
Last month, Boyne City's community members—joined by Norma Ramirez de Miess, Vice President of Field Services, Downtowns at Main Street America and staff from Michigan Main Street—gathered to celebrate the organization’s 20-year tenure in leading downtown revitalization efforts.
Since its inception, Boyne City Main Street has achieved extraordinary milestones, including the establishment of 113 new businesses and the enhancement of 71 building facades, contributing to over $29 million in private investments. Remarkably, the Boyne City Main Street program has been powered by an astounding 61,533 hours of volunteer support over the past two decades, a testament to the dedication and passion of its community members.
Storytelling for the Future
To celebrate our 20-year anniversary, Michigan Main Street created a video series looking at the impact and legacy of the program. The videos dive into “Why Michigan Main Street Matters,” exploring the importance of downtown revitalization, the strength of the Main Street Approach, and the ways that this work has transformed communities. You can watch the full video series here.
It has been very exciting to watch the Michigan Main Street Coordinating Program grow over the years, from four initial local programs in 2003 to the 25 that we work with today. We look forward to building upon our legacy as an organization dedicated to modeling a framework for communities to nurture local place-based economic vitality and social vibrancy. And we are excited to discover what we can accomplish in the next 20 years.
Franklin Bronze Plaques, a Main Street America Allied Member, is this quarter's Main Spotlight advertiser. For more information about the products and services they provide to Main Street organizations, click here >
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Since starting as Executive Director, Todd has helped the organization achieve Virginia Main Street Designation Status and national Accreditation.
Announcing the 2018 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center, Inc., announced Downtown Oregon City, Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency, and Howell Main Street as the 2018 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) winners during its annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Main Streets in Action
We rolled out four new Main Street America videos highlighting the power of the Main Street movement, Main Street Approach, economic impact of Main Street, and the incredible volunteers that make Main Street's grassroots network so effective.
Community Spotlight: Ridgefield Main Street
Ridgefield Main Street is an energetic, up-and-coming Washington Main Street program located just north of Vancouver, Washington.
Want to do something big? Start small.
A series of small, incremental improvements, when taken together, provide momentum for long-term economic transformation and improved quality of life in a community.
Michigan Main Street Refresh Implementation: The Refresh from Our Communities’ Perspective
Here's a bit of background on each of the communities. Read on for the Refresh Implementation Q&A.
Announcing the 2017 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center, Inc. announced the 2017 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) during its annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Reality of Main Street — Letter from the President
The National Main Street Center and the Brookings Institution have jointly authored a response to Mr. Hyman’s piece, The Reality of Main Street, that is featured on Brookings’ blog.
Michigan Main Street Refresh Implementation: Our Process and Lessons Learned So Far
Michigan Main Street Center was the first Coordinating Program to implement the new Main Street approach on a large scale. In this article, they share their robust process and valuable lessons.
The Reality of Main Street
There is another way for smaller communities to compete in today’s economy and we believe a strong main street strategy is at the heart of it.
The Myth of Main Street? Letter from the President
Letter from past MSA President, Patrice Frey
The Lowdown in Downtown LaBelle
Fritz the dog has made his way into the hearts of the residents of LaBelle, Florida, and helped our Main Street Community find a way to make what we do more noticeable.
Strategic Planning Through Transformation Strategies – Saline, Michigan
Back in October 2015, we introduced the three key components of the refreshed Main Street Approach: inputs, outputs and Community Transformation Strategies.
Revitalization and Main Street Transformation
For a lucky few downtowns, greatness may happen effortlessly with a strong sense of place that seems to develop organically and simply sustain itself. For most places, success doesn’t happen by chance.
Revisit Your Community’s Unique Assets: Connecting Asset-Based Economic Development to Community Transformation Strategies
This need for change results from the heavy emphasis on three components of the refreshed Main Street Approach.
The 2016 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The 2016 winners are a diverse group in geography and character, but together demonstrate the broad applicability of the Main Street Approach:
Main Street Nation Radio
The first official show under the Main Street Nation banner aired in June 2015 on WJR-760 AM Detroit.
The Path To The Future
The economic value of historic preservation on Main Street.
Refresh Demonstration Project Sites: Learning Labs for the Updated Main Street Approach
A series of demonstration projects providing the opportunity to test new strategies on the ground, learn from practitioners, and refine the approach.
Why Business Retention and Expansion Plans are Important for Downtowns
A business retention and expansion plan, properly implemented, not only helps keep businesses open but possibly even helps them expand.
Wisconsin Main Street: 27 Years of People, Places and Progress
While there have been over $1.2 billion in public and private investment in Wisconsin Main Street communities over the past 27 years, what really makes it special are the people and places that have been involved.
Pop-Up Art Tour
Main Street Bartow's empty storefronts become pop-up art galleries to promote economic development.
A Walk Through Rehoboth Beach Main Street
Although a “beach town,” Rehoboth Beach is open 365 days a year, and with that has the unique challenge of catering to both year-round residents and tourists within a wide range of ages, interests and economic levels
Independent We Stand Makes Main Streets a Priority
In communities across the country, hardworking business owners and buy local advocates come together to foster an organized effort to reinvent and revitalize Main Streets and downtown districts.
Announcing the 2015 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center is pleased to announce that Cape Girardeau, Mo., Montclair Center, N.J., and Rawlins, Wyo. were selected as the 2015 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA) winners.
