Last week, staff of the Michigan Main Street Center was in Manistee, MI, a beautiful downtown on the shores of Lake Michigan. The event was the Resource Team Visit, a valuable service of consultants (contracted through the National Main Street Center) that come to a selected community for four days of intense observation and recommendation...

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In my last post, “Downtown Retail as an Economic Engine,” I talk about the economic impact retail can have on a local economy. But what is local retail? There’s been a lot of confusion over the issue of “local” lately...

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It’s hard to believe, but fall is not too far away; which means that the Michigan Downtown Conference planning partners are hard at work to make the 2010 conference the best yet. Taking place in downtown Bay City on September 13 and 14, 2010, attendees will be treated to two full days of best practices and real life experiences from other Michiganians revitalizing their downtowns. With the theme of “Michigan’s Downtowns. Yes, We’re open!” based on the award-winning Michigan Main Street video, this year’s conference will feature ideas on how to revitalize Michigan’s downtowns.

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Just around the corner in may, it will be time to celebrate National Historic Preservation Month, a time for all to take a moment to consider the importance and impact our historic and cultural resources play in our lives and in our community...

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