These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) may answer your primary questions about the programs offered through the Michigan Main Street Center. For greater detail, see the program descriptions on this Web site.
What is the Michigan Main Street Center @ MSHDA?
The Michigan Main Street Center (MMSC) is part of the Specialized Technical Assistance and Revitalization Strategy (STARS) Division at the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The MMSC team is comprised of revitalization experts who manage different programs that give their target markets an advantage in efforts to redevelop commercial, residential and mixed-use properties. Its goal is to assist communities with the revitalization of historic downtowns and traditional neighborhood commercial districts.
What programs are available through the Michigan Main Street Center?
The Center's revitalization programs include:
In addition, the STARS Division is an integral part of MSHDA's efforts to help make Michigan's communities more vibrant places to live, work and play.
How do the programs differ?
Each of the Center's programs focuses on the unique needs of a community to ensure successful revitalization. Some communities may need an analysis of their assets and potentials, others may be ready for a consultant's guidance, and still others are ready to launch a community-driven strategy.
What is the Michigan Main Street Program?
The objective of the Michigan Main Street Program is to support and improve Michigan’s downtowns and traditional commercial neighborhood districts. The Michigan Main Street Program employs a Four-Point Approach®, a community-driven, comprehensive strategy that encourages economic development through historic preservation. The program provides technical assistance that helps a community build partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders and encourages historic preservation. It promotes environmentally-sustainable redevelopment, integrates a community's cultural assets and fosters entrepreneurial development and downtown living.
What is the Four-Point Approach®?
The Four-Point Approach® of the Michigan Main Street Program refers to proven techniques for community revitalization. These techniques include Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion and Organization, all working together with community collaborations and partnerships.
DESIGN means capitalizing on the assets of the downtown's physical environment, such as historic buildings, and creating an inviting atmosphere through renovation and perhaps new construction, all the while developing sensitive design management systems and long-term planning for sustainability.
ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING means strengthening a community's existing economic base by helping existing businesses and recruiting new ones, thereby converting unused space into productive property.
PROMOTION is the effort to market the downtown's unique characteristics to residents, visitors, investors and business owners through advertising, retail activities, events, and marketing campaigns.
ORGANIZATION refers to the effort to involve all the downtown's stakeholders to work toward a common goal, and driving a volunteer-based Main Street Program under the direction of a governing board, standing committees, and the guidance of a paid program director.
What are the benefits of the Main Street Program?
When a community participates in a comprehensive revitalization effort, its traditional downtown or traditional commercial neighborhood district can experience a return to economic vitality. Benefits include:
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Protecting and strengthening the existing tax base
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Creating a positive community image
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Creating visually appealing and economically viable downtown buildings
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Attracting new businesses
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Creating new jobs
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Increasing investment in the downtown
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Preserving historic architectural resources
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Tailoring to specific community needs
What is a "Traditional Downtown" or "Traditional Neighborhood Commercial District"?
The definition of a traditional downtown or traditional neighborhood commercial district is one with a contiguous grouping of 20 or more zoned-commercial parcels of property with 75% or more of all parcels in the district having: existing buildings with architectural or historical (more than 50 years old) significance, zero lot-line (building directly adjacent to the sidewalk) development and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
Can Main Street cover the entire town?
No. The Main Street area must be either a "traditional downtown" or "traditional neighborhood commercial district." The Main Street program should focus its attention on one central area and core. Those in the surrounding area will certainly benefit from a stronger core and are encouraged to take part in the revitalization of the district. The TIF or Assessment district may be significantly larger than the Main Street area, but the Main Street area likely will not encompass the entire TIF or Assessment district must focus on one centralized core area.
Are there examples of how the Michigan Main Street Program has worked?
Absolutely! Successful programs exist in many Michigan downtowns. You'll find examples on this Web site including in the gallery; one or more may be in communities near you.
How does the Michigan Main Street Program help?
Our staff provides technical assistance and service to local communities at three different levels: Associate, Selected and Master. Detailed descriptions of these levels can be found below. To qualify, the community must have a traditional downtown or traditional commercial neighborhood district, and meet other criteria.
What are the differences between the different levels of the Michigan Main Street program?
The Michigan Main Street program consists of three different levels: Associate, Selected and Master.
The Associate Level is the first step in the program. The intent of the Associate Level is to provide communities with a basic understanding and knowledge of the Main Street Four-Point Approach®. Additionally, communities learn the benefits and requirements of the Michigan Main Street program, in order to prepare for the Selected Level.
Once a community has successfully completed the Associate Level, they are eligible to apply for the Selected Level. The intent of the Selected Level is to assist communities in implementing the Main Street Four-Point Approach® to revitalization by creating a fully-functioning and sustainable local Main Street program. The Main Street program has an active Board of Directors providing oversight and direction, four volunteer-driven committees completing projects and a Main Street Manager assisting with day-to-day needs.
Because our Selected Level communities wanted to remain in the Michigan Main Street program, after completing their five years at the Selected Level, the Master Level was created. The intent of the Master Level is to continue assisting communities that have successfully integrated a full Main Street program into their community. This is achieved by continuing to offer them trainings and networking opportunities as well as the opportunity to act as mentors for Michigan Main Street communities.
Is the Michigan Main Street program a grant program?
No! At no point in time will a community receive a check from the Michigan Main Street Center as part of the Main Street program. MMSC staff provides technical assistance to our Main Street communities.
Who pays for a local Main Street program?
When applying for the Selected Level, communities are required to submit a five(5) year budget completely funding the program, including staff, professional development, travel and any overhead. The budget should be a public/private partnership. MMSC does not charge a community to be a part of the program, nor do they fund any part of a community's budget
Are all levels of the Michigan Main Street program required to have staff?
No. The Associate Level is not required to have staff. At the Selected and Master Level, communities, regardless of their size, are required to have a full-time Main Street Manager dedicated to the revitalization of the community's Main Street area.
If Main Street is a volunteer-driven program, why do we need a full-time manager?
Though the decisions and projects in a Main Street program are carried out by volunteers, it is vital to have someone handling the day-to-day issues, including answering the phone, paying the bills, coordinating issues and providing support to the volunteers. Trust us. A full-time manager is a necessity in a Selected or Master Level program. The Main Street manager is also often the program's biggest volunteer.
Can the Mayor or City Manager also be the Main Street Manager?
No. As the Main Street Manager must focus the majority of their time on the Main Street district, this is not possible. The Main Street Manager may be the assessment or TIF district director if the Main Street area is in that district. However, they must focus 95% of their time on the Main Street area.
Can anyone use the “Main Street” name?
No. Only communities in good standing at the Selected and Master level are allowed to use the Main Street name, which is trademarked by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Associate Level communities are a part of the Michigan Main Street Network, but not allowed to use the name.
Is the Michigan Main Street program only open to city governments?
No. The Main Program must have a hosting organization with a board, bylaws, etc. However, that organization can be a DDA, CIA, PSD, BIZ, etc., or also be a 501(c)3. The focus of that organization must be the revitalization of the Main Street district.
There are two other programs of the Michigan Main Street Center. For example, Blueprints for Michigan's Downtowns. How does that work?
Downtown communities must apply through a competitive process each year to be selected for the Blueprints for Michigan's Downtowns Program. MSHDA contracts with a recognized consulting firm that specializes in the economic enhancement of traditional downtowns. MSHDA provides 50 percent of the total cost of consultants. Communities are expected to contribute 50 percent based on population size.
How many communities will be selected for the Blueprints Program?
Allowing selection flexibility is important to the program, and it’s based on how many applicants we receive from the different population categories explained elsewhere on this Web site. It's likely that up to 10 traditional downtowns will be selected.
Who can apply for Blueprints?
Any city, township or village that maintains an active downtown business organization that has a traditional downtown can apply for Blueprints.
What community might be a good candidate for Blueprints?
A good candidate for Blueprints is a community that is experiencing deterioration and/or stagnation of its downtown over an extended period of time, but has new energy and community commitment for the revitalization of its downtown. The successful candidate must be prepared to pay half of the consultant fees before the project begins, and to provide assistance and volunteer hours through a Process Committee. See the Blueprints description on this Web site for a more detailed explanation.
What is the Downtown Market Analysis Program?
Communities can utilize this dollar-for-dollar matching-grant program to contract with a consultant to provide them with an analysis of the potential business mix their historic downtown or historic neighborhood commercial district can support, as well as additional potential residential opportunities.