Governor Granholm Announces Michigan
Main Street Community Designation for Manistee

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the city of Manistee has been selected by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to take part in the Michigan Main Street program.

Through the Michigan Main Street program, Manistee will receive five years of intensive technical assistance through MSHDA, with a focus on revitalization strategies designed to attract new business investment, economic growth and job creation to its central business district.

“Michigan’s economy cannot thrive without thriving downtowns – big and small,” Granholm said. “This program will help Manistee create opportunities for new development and economic growth just as it has in downtowns across our state.”

The Michigan Main Street program is part of Governor Granholm’s Cool Cities initiative to create vibrant communities in Michigan. These efforts are based on numerous recent studies showing that investing in our downtowns creates vibrant centers, making our state economically stronger. There are currently 12 participating Michigan Main Street communities.

The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage community economic development through:
• Organization: getting everyone working toward the same goal and assembling the appropriate human and financial resources to implement a Main Street revitalization program.

• Promotion: selling a positive image of the commercial district and encouraging consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the Main Street district.

• Design: getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets, such as historic buildings and pedestrian-oriented streets, is just part of the story.

• Economic restructuring: strengthening a community's existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base.

Communities wishing to become a Michigan Main Street Community or request information regarding the Michigan Main Street program are asked to contact Laura Krizov at MSHDA at (517) 241-4237.

“Programs like Michigan Main Street go a long way in helping revitalize traditional downtowns, making them a more desirable place to live, work and invest,” said Keith Molin, Interim Executive Director of MSHDA. “Economic vitality of our vibrant communities and cool cities is the cornerstone of continuing economic success for the entire state.”

MSHDA is a quasi-state agency that provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve safe and decent affordable housing, engage in community economic development activities, and address homeless issues. MSHDA’s loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds and notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. For more information on MSHDA programs and initiatives, visit the Web site at www.michigan.gov/mshda.

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