By Joe Borgstrom, Director
Specialized Technical Assistance
& Revitalization Division
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

One of the nice things about having a blog is we get pretty instantaneous feedback. As I mentioned in my last post, not all of it is always positive. The biggest misconception (by far) is by those who think Main Street is a public sector-driven model. They think that we, and those who support Main Street, somehow believe government is THE answer. These folks clearly haven’t learned about Main Street.

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By Kelly Larson
Michigan Main Street Architect
State Historic Preservation Office
Michigan Department of History, Arts & Libraries

In my position, I hear a lot of people talk about how historic buildings in our downtowns are inefficient in their use of energy and are a financial drain because of it. While I certainly can’t deny that’s not the case to a property owner struggling to pay their electric bills, the truth is historic buildings ARE energy efficient. They were designed and built that way. The problem is that they haven’t been maintained to STAY energy efficient.

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Editor's Note: This week we're thrilled to have a good partner and friend Dan Gilmartin as our guest blogger. Dan is the Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League (MML). The MML has a seat on our Michigan Main Street Advisory Committee and is a partner on the Michigan Downtown Conference. They represent over 500 communities across our great state.

By Dan Gilmartin
Executive Director
Michigan Municipal League

Most Main Street workers and volunteers get involved in their local programs as a way of making an impact on their own community. But do they ever stop for a moment and consider that their actions may actually be saving Michigan?

We at the League believe that downtowns will play a critical role in reviving our lagging economy. Research from around the world shows that people are demanding authenticity and distinctiveness when choosing which communities to live in or where to set up a business. That means downtowns and the neighborhoods that surround them. This is particularly true among important demographic groups like educated millenials (with their entrepreneurial drive) and aging boomers (with their accumulated wealth).

So while a traditional focus for reviving Michigan's economy might center on areas such as taxes and regulations, a more fruitful strategy will consist of programs and policies that will assist our collective efforts in "place making" as a means of attracting people to our state. And while it is certainly too soon to declare victory, we are starting to see signs of positive change. After decades of state policies that have relegated downtowns to a bit role in their economic development initiatives, downtowns in Michigan are beginning to flex their muscles again and reclaiming their rightful place in the strategic economic vision for our state.

Now we need to keep pushing!

To learn more about the League's efforts to jump start a new vision for Michigan, go to www.mml.org and check out the Center for 21st Century Communities (21C3). A quick glimpse at our Inside208 Blog will also keep you up to date on important downtown legislative initiatives in Lansing as well.

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By Jodie Willobee
Promotions, Arts & Culture Specialist
Michigan Main Street Center
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

On occasion we all get an, albeit ever so brief, break in the action. You may have heard of this phenomena, some like to call it, “time to think”. I found myself with a small amount of this strange time earlier this week and took full advantage of slowing down to think, what the heck have I been running around doing for the last 8 weeks?? Meetings here and there, phone buzzing constantly. Did I accomplish my goals and did I (please, please) actually help someone through all of this busyness?

I emerged from my 5 minute break between emails, from my trans-desk-ental meditation and felt that indeed some good work had been done. Specifically, the work accomplished with the great folks working on this year’s Michigan Downtown Conference (MDC) has some real merit.

Staples Got the Boot – Artists Gets a Hug
This year the MDC decided to ditch the catalog-ordered, acrylic-etched, ho-hum awards and selected a real, talented, creative artist from Michigan to design and craft the awards. I can’t even say it was extra work to do this because it was so satisfying to know we were really doing something to help our own economy.

NOTE: The selected artist was announced yesterday. Check the MDC website for details, or just click here.

Recognizing and rewarding impressive downtown projects with equally impressive works of art…now that’s what we like to see in Michigan.

Take a Minute – Tell Us About Yourself
The only way to get one of these original, hand-crafted awards is to submit your project via the conference website and be chosen. The award categories are specific to Michigan downtowns but vast in their scope. We are looking for great green projects (large and small); projects that brought housing back to downtown, amazing façade restoration and many others. In addition, there are also categories specific to superior projects in Michigan Main Street communities.

Obviously, we did not single-handedly save the Michigan economy with one tiny contract. But we did stay true to what is at the heart of what we do – supporting the entrepreneurs that make our downtowns strong.

If you are using Michigan-based entrepreneurs in a creative way – let us know – we would love to hear about it.

“Who in the hell d’you think you are? A superstar? Well, right you are!” -Instant Karma – John Lennon

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By Dace Koenigsknecht
Economic Restructuring Specialist
Michigan Main Street
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

A collective can be defined as a group of people that share, and are motivated by, a common interest. This definition does not incorporate any economic benefit or savings, such verbiage belongs under the definition of a cooperative. For sake of this posting, I’m looking at social and communal equity versus the sole desire to make money.

A group of people with a common interest…sounds like a community - in particular its downtown. Historically, pioneers gathered in small communities for social interaction and strength in numbers. Humans are inherently social creatures, often founding a church at the start, and reinforced by the pack mentality of sharing risk and protecting one another. We recognize that each person, possessing a desired skill or specialty, benefits the whole through proximity and like-desire to survive. In the early days, downtown was a collective based upon the interest of survival.

Hmmm…the more things change, the more they stay the same. I would argue that contemporary downtowns are still in that fight-for-survival mode. Global flattening has increased the competition from that of the neighboring village, to that of the village in a neighboring country or beyond. It’s not about competing with the merchant down the street. Local competition produces choice, which is a primary factor in attracting customers. Your local mix, your local collective, is an asset that must be embraced and strived for above all else.

Each downtown is unique, with its own retail and service mix. However, it’s the people that are the REAL uniqueness in each community. It’s their desire to be there, their love for their community and all it has to offer; it’s their sharing of that common interest, a downtown interest. The Main Street philosophy is about the collective community, about the collective downtown. There is an economic basis to the 4-Point™ approach, but it comes from reinvigorating the passion and motivation of the people.

Your downtown is a unique collective of merchants and service providers, residents and non-residents, and all are critical to the ongoing survival of your community. Identify and embrace communal assets, build upon them, foster pride and passion around them, and spread the word regarding your uniqueness. Be the best you can be!

From collective pride will come collective success…

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