May 22, 2025
Governor Whitmer Announces Live6 Alliance as a Select Level Michigan Main Street Program
Live6 Alliance joins 22 other Michigan communities taking a strategic approach to revitalizing their downtowns and commercial districts
LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Live6 Alliance has been chosen by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to take part in the Select Level of the Michigan Main Street program.
Live6 Alliance is a neighborhood-based community planning and development organization working to advance economic development strategies that increase opportunity and enhance the quality of life in Northwest Detroit. Live6 is a one-stop shop for authentic, inclusive neighborhood revitalization with a particular focus on the Livernois and McNichols corridors. The organization serves as a central convener and coordinator between the community, institutions, and key stakeholders who contribute to the advancement of our district.
As part of the Select Level of Michigan Main Street, they will receive five years of intensive technical assistance from MEDC with a focus on revitalization strategies designed to attract new residents, business investments, economic growth and job creation to this strategic commercial corridor in Northwest Detroit.
“We want to make downtowns and main streets across Michigan more vibrant, exciting places for people to live, work, and invest, and today’s announcement will help us continue getting that done,” said Governor Whitmer. “With the support of the Main Street program and the MEDC, Live6 and 22 communities across the state are working hard to transform commercial districts throughout Michigan, attracting more small businesses, bringing in more customers, and making people feel proud to be where they’re from.”
“Michigan downtowns and main streets grow our economy, drive our vibrant communities, and make Michigan a better place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Joining the Michigan Mainstreet program will help Live6 transform the Livernois and McNichols corridors, strengthen local partnerships, and bring new residents to Northwest Detroit. Governor Whitmer and I are committed to investing in Detroit neighborhoods, and we will Stand Tall to help more families ‘make it’ in Detroit and Michigan.”
Michigan Main Street builds upon the existing infrastructure in a district to support vibrancy and strengthen a sense of place. Local leaders are empowered to guide tailored on-the-ground economic development efforts to foster small businesses, bring more customers to the neighborhood, revitalize the built environment and cultivate community pride.
“Receiving Michigan Main Street designation signifies a powerful milestone for our community; it affirms the unique character of our corridors and our collective commitment to strengthening and growing them into a district that is not only reflective of community voice and local retail demand but one that is also attractive to regional visitors and shoppers alike,” said Caitlin Murphy, Executive Director of Live6 Alliance. “This recognition and alignment with the MEDC and Main Street America will help us to strengthen local partnerships, attract new investments, and support local entrepreneurship in new ways. This is more than a program—it’s a long-term strategy that catalyzes neighborhood stability and shared prosperity. We are proud to join the Michigan Main Street Network.”
Live6 Alliance joins 22 other districts already benefitting from participation in the Main Street program. To view a map of the current Michigan Main Street communities, visit here.
“The MEDC is pleased to support communities across Michigan and invest in their resilience as part of our ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic strategy’s placemaking efforts, developing downtowns and commercial districts to grow vibrant, unique places,” said Michele Wildman, MEDC Chief Place Officer. “Programs like Michigan Main Street provide communities with the tools needed to create jobs, provide desirable places to live and build a sense of place for Michigan residents. We look forward to seeing how the Northwest Detroit community grows over the next five years.
Over the past year, Michigan Main Street communities generated more than $49 million in private investment, 136 new businesses and 117 façade improvements and building rehabilitations. Since its inception in 2003, Michigan Main Street has been a catalyst for job growth, private investment and community engagement. From 2003 through 2024, 2,033 businesses have been launched, with a total public investment of more than $152 million and total private investment of $ 473 million. In addition, 30,094 volunteer hours were recorded in 2024 in the task of revitalizing downtowns and commercial districts across the state.
To learn more about the Michigan Main Street program, visit here. To learn more about MEDC’s community development programs, visit here.
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