In MI Downtown

Prompted in part by the 2020 pandemic, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation identified a need to assist Michigan communities for planning for the unexpected so that they might recover in an organized and expedient manner. Through its Redevelopment Ready Communities Program, the Resiliency Toolkit was created to formalize current recovery efforts into plans, policies, and partnerships. Lea...

Downtowns are great places for people to live. Even its local workforce. But market demands and past development trends have effected this important demographic. Efforts to address workforce housing can include work by non-profit organizations called Community Land Trusts. This podcast is a Q&A between MDA Executive Director Dana Walker and Annette Knowles (who is usually our host) about affor...

Downtown Directors are the dedicated professionals who keep the hearts of our Michigan communities beating. And, we'd like to get to know them better. In this episode of In MI Downtown - The Pulse , Amy Allen, Executive Director of the Lyon Township DDA, explains how her background in Parks and Recreation prepared her for a career change to downtown revitalization. And, we learn more about her...

Get ready for the MDA's Summer Workshop in Harbor Springs on Friday, May 31. Find out all you need to know before you attend! And, arrive early for the warm-up activities on May 30. Learn from MDA Executive Director why this workshop will be stellar!

Downtown Directors are the dedicated professionals who keep the hearts of our Michigan communities beating. And, we'd like to get to know them better. In this episode of In MI Downtown - The Pulse , James Alt, ED of the Lapeer DDA, shares how his journey to downtown revitalization work happened by magic! That, and a background in art and marketing.

Downtown Directors are the dedicated professionals who keep the hearts of our Michigan communities beating. And, we'd like to get to know them better. In this episode of In MI Downtown - The Pulse , we get to know Christine Malzahn from the DDA in Imlay City, in Michigan's Thumb. With topics ranging from entrepreneurship to the Detroit Lions, this episode is one not-to-be-missed! Please no...

Downtown Directors are the dedicated professionals who keep the hearts of our Michigan communities beating. And, we'd like to get to know them better. In this episode of In MI Downtown, we launch the Pulse, a special series of interviews with downtown directors from around the state. Hear their inspiring stories about how they became involved in downtown work and what they feel are their great...

The scarcity of affordable and attainable housing is a national issue for which there is not a uniform solution for all communities. In this episode of In MI Downtown, learn what Charlevoix is doing to address the lack of housing that is available to the local workforce. Guest Lindsey Dotson, DDA Executive Director, provides details about deed restrictions and housing incentives. This podcast is o...

Make your downtown more inviting and evocative of a sense of safety by incorporating principles of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) in your planning and improvement processes. Special guest Harmony Gmazel from MSU-Extension offers on overview of CPTED principles and applications in this episode of In MI Downtown .

While the Covid pandemic spurred changes to the methods for hosting events in Flint Township, the positive response from both the community and business owners has led the DDA to make the adaptations permanent. In a place without a walkable downtown or a large community gathering place, decentralized events have been the key to providing a means for the community to connect with its businesses. Le...

The Michigan Downtown Association will host its annual fall conference the first week in November in fabulous Downtown Birmingham! Dana Walker, MDA Executive Director, shares highlights from the conference agenda, while Birmingham PSD Executive Director Cristina Shepard-Decius provides her recommendations for places to see and things to do while you are visiting in this episode of In MI Downtown.

Contained within Act 57 of 2018 are reporting requirements for DDAs, among other TIF authorities. Adherence to the reporting requirements helps to strengthen each DDA's relationship with the State of Michigan legislature and to provide performance data for the DDAs utilization of TIF funds. Travis Bukovcik, Departmental Analyst with the Michigan Department of Treasury, oversees the reporting o...

When Scott Csazak became City Manager of the City of Caro, in Michigan's thumb, he quickly saw on opportunity to strengthen the downtown through the hiring of a full-time DDA Executive Director. Learn how Scott fielded the array of issues and stakeholders to turn this idea into reality. Scott drew on his experiences as a DDA Executive Director in Escanaba, Michigan, to guide his recommendation...

The Ann Arbor DDA has engaged the services of a consultant to conduct a Parking Rate Study, in some respect due to changes in parking utilization noticed after the COVID pandemic. In a previous episode, Kelley Graves, DDA Office Manager, along with Jada Hahlbrook, Parking Manager, introduced the study by documenting the process for completion of the request for proposals. Now, we learn about progr...

In Part I of this series of In MI Downtown , we heard an overview about Downtown Master Plans. In this episode, we move from theoretical into practical with a discussion featuring Nani Wolf, AICP, CAPS, an associate planner with McKenna Associates. Nani describes her experience working with not one, but two communities in southeast Michigan on a cooperative downtown planning process. Nani covers h...

This episode of In MI Downtown features a conversation with Paul Lippens, AICP, NCI from long-time MDA friends McKenna and Associates. Paul is a Vice President and Director of the Kalamazoo Studio. This podcast is Part I of II dealing with the value of Downtown Master Plans and important factors, including market trends, design guidelines and zoning issues. Get the overview you need before startin...

The Michigan Downtown Association is hosting its Summer (yay!) Workshop in Alpena, Michigan on June 2, 2023. Listen to this special edition of In MI Downtown to learn about workshop highlights and fun things to see and do in Alpena before or after the workshop. The workshop is about having it all in your downtown and you are assured of leaving with some ideas to help you foster the creation of pla...

In response to changes in parking utilization throughout the downtown district in Ann Arbor post-COVID, the Ann Arbor DDA has initiated the process of completion of a parking rate study. In this episode of In MI Downtown , we will hear from Kelley Graves, Ann Arbor DDA Management Assistant and Board Secretary, and Jada Hahlbrook, Parking Manager, about the goals of the study and the development of...

The first MI Downtown Association workshop in 2023 combines Advocacy Day with state legislators, with a jam-packed workshop in East Lansing the following day.  MDA Executive Director Dana Walker and East Lansing's Community and Economic Development Administrator Adam Cummins preview the workshop and the latest happenings in East Lansing that you'll want to check out while visiting! &nbsp...

Does your downtown district remain full of activity during the post-holiday colder winter months?  You can make a difference in retaining vibrancy following best practices from the Winter Cities Guidebook .  Learn more from Patrick Coleman of the Winter Cities Institute and North of 45 about strategies to combat those winter blues!  This episode of In MI Downtown is a must-listen fo...

Downtowns need to remain relevant during the holiday shopping season (and beyond) as customers respond to latest trends and alternate methods.   Special events, promotions and displays contribute to making a downtown merry, bright and busy during this important season of the calendar.  We've captured stories from all over Michigan - from Charlevoix to Farmington and Spring Lake to R...

Downtown Lansing launched the Middle Village Micro Market in 2021 and it's success has been phenomenal so far!  Cathleen Edgerly, Executive Director of Downtown Lansing, Inc., and Julie Reinhardt, Director of Downtown Community Development, discuss the process to open this unique business incubator, what the experience is like for its "Villagers" and how its success is leading to another amaz...

This November 3 and 4, the Michigan Downtown Association will host its annual conference on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan in Downtown Muskegon.  Listen in to find out more about conference highlights and to discover what there is to see and do nearby to make your stay more fun!

Recreational marijuana dispensaries have sprouted up all over the State of Michigan since being legalized in 2018.  Yet, many communities have removed themselves from contention for a location by opting out, as permitted by law.  Are these communities overlooking an economic development opportunity? In this episode of In MI Downtown, we discuss as a case study one community's experience...

In this episode, MDA Executive Director Dana Walker asks Charlevoix DDA Executive Director Lindsey Dotson about some amazing projects happening in Downtown Charlevoix and follows up with a preview of the MDA's Summer Workshop to be held on Friday, June 3.  Learn why you won't want to miss a visit to Downtown Charlevoix to kick off your summer!