Blissfield, Hart and Wayland Receive Michigan Main Street Community Designation

Three Michigan Municipal League members - Blissfield, Hart and Wayland - have received the Michigan Main Street Community Designation by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

This is great news for these communities because as full fledged Michigan Main Street communities, they will now receive five years of intensive technical assistance through the Michigan Main Street Center at MSHDA. THis training will focus on revitalization strategies desgned to attract new residents, business investment, economic growth and job creation to their center business districts.

"The Michigan Main Stret program will help Blissfield, Hart and Wayland created opportunities for new development and economic growth just as it has in downtowns across our state," said Governor Jennifer Granholm. "Michigan's economy will be stronger with thriving downowns - big and small."

The Michigan Main Street program is part of Governor Granholm's initiative to create vibrant communities across Michigan, which is also a primary goal for the Michigan Municipal League and it's Center for 21st Century Communities program. These efforts are based on numerous recent studies showing that investing in our downtowns creates vibrant centers, making Michigan economcally stronger. There are currently 38 participating Michigan Main Street communities at all levels, inlcuding 16 at the select and master levels.

If your community is interested in getting involved, please contact Laura Krizov at MSHDA at (517) 241-4237.

In a press release sent to the League, Wayland officials and volunteers said they were trilled to get the Main Street designation.

"We are so excited to receive this designation from the state," said Mike Salisbury, chair of the DDA/Main Street Board that will oversee the program in Wayland. "So many people donated their time and talents to help prepare the extensive application to develop and perform the presentation in Lansing. It's heartening for Wayland to be recognized for all that hard work!"

Wayland Mayor Tim Bala added "this presents a great opportunity to take Wayland's downtown to the next level of success. The Main Street Program is well known around the country for helping to revitalize traditional downtowns. This announcement comes at a perfect time for Wayland's downtown as well as the entire community as we continue to build on our efforts toward a more vibrant and sustainable downtown."

Wayland is now organizing a celebration of the designation at a yet-to-be-determined date. Wayland officials made a series of YouTube videos as part of their presentation that earned them the Michigan Main Street Designation. View the videos here, here, here, here, here and here.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.

Wayland officials made a series of YouTube videos as part of their presentation that earned them the Michigan Main Street Designation. View the videos here, here, here, here, here and here. In this photo are "The Wayland City People" who performed as musical guests on the "Not Too Late for Downtown" show. They are, from left, Wayland resident Aaron Whitley, Wayland City Manager Chris Yonker, Wayland resident Matt Miner and city employee Jason Beckwith.