Governor Announces Blissfield's Acceptance In Michigan Main Street Program

LANSING -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the communities of Blissfield, Hart and Wayland were selected by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to take part in the Michigan Main Street program.

As full fledged Michigan Main Street communities, Blissfield, Hart and Wayland will receive five years of intensive technical assistance, through the Michigan Main Street Center @ MSHDA, with a focus on revitalization strategies designed to attract new residents, business investment, economic growth and job creation to their central business districts.

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

The Michigan Main Street program is part of Governor Granholm's initiative to create vibrant communities across Michigan. These efforts are based on numerous recent studies showing that investing in our downtowns creates vibrant centers, making our state economically stronger. There are currently 38 participating Michigan Main Street communities at all levels, including 16 at the select and master levels.

The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage community economic development through:

• Organization:getting everyone working toward the same goal and assembling the appropriate human and financial resources to implement a Main Street revitalization program.
• Promotion:selling a positive image of the commercial district and encouraging consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the Main Street district.
• Design:getting the downtown into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets, such as historic buildings and pedestrian-oriented streets, is just part of the story.
• Economic restructuring:strengthening a community's existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base.

Communities wishing to become a Michigan Main Street Community or request information regarding the Michigan Main Street program are asked to contact Laura Krizov at MSHDA at (517) 241-4237.

"Programs like Michigan Main Street go a long way in helping revitalize traditional downtowns, making them a more desirable place to live, work and invest," said Keith Molin, executive director of MSHDA. "Economic vitality of our vibrant communities and downtowns is the cornerstone of continuing economic success of our state."

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority is dedicated to building a thriving and vibrant future for Michigan. MSHDA provides tools and resources to improve people's lives through programs across the state. These programs assist with housing, build strong neighborhoods, and help create places where people want to live and work. MSHDA's programs work in four areas: affordable rental housing; supporting homeownership; ending homelessness; and creating vibrant cites and neighborhoods.*

*MSHDA's loan and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds as well as notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. Proceeds are loaned at below-market interest rates to developers of rental housing, and help fund mortgages and home improvement loans. MSHDA also administers several federal housing programs.