MEDC MiPlace on LinkedIn: #mimainstreet #engagedlevelmms #mimainstreet (2024)

Check out USA TODAY's top 10 list of Michigan beaches!https://lnkd.in/g-4NYtMv

6

Congrats are headed out to the city of Laingsburg for recently achieving Engaged Level status with Michigan Main Street! Their achievement signifies that they are on-track to full participation in MMS and are working to complete their Select Level application. Becoming an #EngagedLevelMMS program opens the gateway to additional support from the #MiMainStreet team, including free attendance to 1 Michigan Main Street training per year, support in building an asset map for the district, and further technical assistance from the MMS staff based on Solution Center Resources.Communities are officially recognized as an Engaged Level Main Street community once they have complete the online Main Street training series, and have completed & submitted a downtown scorecard, a tool designed to help downtown districts to evaluate an organization's performance, strengths, growth opportunities, and areas of need, and to identify the tools and resources that could provide inspiration and help take your organization to the next level from the Main Street Solution Center. The downtown scorecard is a helpful tool in not only figuring out where your district management is currently thriving, but will also help your organization determine areas of growth and direct you to tools on the Solution Center to help support your growth. Download your own copy of the downtown scorecard at https://lnkd.in/g_5srbSW.

12

1 Comment

Michigan Central is open! From its grand opening in 1913 to its years of neglect, and now to its stunning revival, this iconic Detroit landmark has seen it all. The newly renovated Michigan Central Station is a testament to the city's resilience and vision for the future.

3

The tour to celebrate 10 years of the Public Spaces Community Places program has begun with the first stop in Flint at Factory Two!

1

Recently the MSF board approved $366,637 in federal Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration funds for 11 local destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to conduct community accessibility audits and to meet the needs of the visually impaired by making destination websites more accessible. Approved by the MSF board in August of 2023, the Accessible Traveler Grant Application initiative is intended to support local DMOs in providing a more accessible experience to all users, increasing tourism, and driving growth in Michigan’s economy. Today’s grant approvals are part of a second round of funding that follows an initial round of 16 grants that were approved by the MSF board in January. “Travel Michigan and the MEDC are committed to ensuring that all are welcome in Pure Michigan,” said Kelly Wolgamott, Interim Vice President of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “We are proud to continue our support of statewide travel destinations as they proactively work to create a more accessible and inclusive environment in their communities by becoming more welcoming to travelers of all abilities.”  Learn where the grant dollars are headed in the link below. https://lnkd.in/gwdy2gCv

3

Maximize your summer fun and have a plan so you don't waste a single blissful beach day, bike ride, perfect paddle, meteor shower, or brilliant sunset. Here's a list of 20+ ideas to add to your Michigan summer bucket list, ensuring you'll have an unforgettable summer!https://lnkd.in/dVXyb_6B

3

1 Comment

The River City Market, a new shared retail space for small businesses, recently opened on Evart Main Street. Located at 122 N. Main St., the newly renovated space allows entrepreneurs to test their businesses in a real brick-and-mortar setting.The Michigan Main Street program's vibrancy grant provided $25,000 to renovate the former dentist's office. Learn more about the project and how to get involved with Evart's Main Street program in the article below. https://lnkd.in/gA7fGahB

6

The Michigan Strategic Fund board recently approved support for the conversion of a vacant commercial building into a vibrant, mixed-use site in Downtown Kalamazoo. Once completed, the project will add a ground-level restaurant and 82 new residential units – over 40 percent of which will be priced as attainable housing – contributing to Kalamazoo County and the City of Kalamazoo’s efforts to significantly increase housing in the area. PlazaCorp Realty Advisors, Inc., the developer, has redeveloped several functionally obsolete, blighted, and contaminated properties over the last several decades, leveraging a combination of Michigan Community Revitalization Program (MCRP) grants, loans, and/or state tax increment financing (TIF). The company’s portfolio of Kalamazoo properties includes the Spearflex Block, Kalamazoo Hotel Partner’s Hilton Garden Inn, and the Exchange Building. The redevelopment of this property in Kalamazoo will help add residential density to the area in a walkable, mixed-use district, further enhancing the vitality and vibrancy of the downtown community. Read more about the project taking place in downtown Kalamazoo at the link below and across the state: https://lnkd.in/gEqRHgtN

40

1 Comment

@Downtown Allegan’s Mahan Park could expand its gathering space with the creation of a new universally accessible pedestrian plaza and improvements to the existing infrastructure through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City Of Allegan recently announced the campaign, which is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by July 31st, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/mahan.

1