grayling main street
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grayling main street
Grayling Main Street Newsletter July 2014 Benefits of the Main Street program By: Donovan Rypkema Speaker Donovan Rypkema of PlaceEconomics, a Washington That speaks to the power of the Main Street approach, which is D.C.-based real estate and economic development-consulting firm, shared focused on energizing downtowns by building on what makes the positive news with an engaged crowd of about 1,300 city planners, them unique.” community revitalization professionals and volunteers participating in the “The study shows the Michigan Main Street program is conference at the GM Renaissance Center. accomplishing its mission of helping communities use their “In the past decade, Michigan has seen the ups and downs of the national historic downtowns and neighborhoods as an effective vehicle for and state economy,” Rypkema said. “Through it all, its historic downtowns economic development,” Gov. Rick Snyder said. “These are the -- with the support of the Main Street program -- have persevered and types of activities we need to encourage to keep the momentum prospered. moving forward in Michigan.” “The words Main Street may evoke images of warm summer nights at a Communities that were part of the study included: downtown festival, but they also should signify real return on investment Blissfield, Boyne City, Calumet, Clare, Grand Haven, Hart, and renewed community commitment.” Howell, Iron Mountain, Ishpeming, Manistee, Marshall, Midland, The report combined analysis of 10 years of quantitative data Muskegon, Niles, Old Town Lansing, Otsego, Owosso, Portland, with onsite, qualitative research and showcased compelling stores of the Saline, Scottville and Wayland. comprehensive impact of the state’s Main Street program. Among the “Michigan has never had a study of this magnitude to help us findings, Michigan Main Street communities have outperformed other understand the true impact of the Main Street program and communities in the state during the most recent economic downturn. preservation-based economic development,” MSHDA Executive That news didn’t come as a surprise to Patrice Frey, president and CEO of Director Scott Woosley said. “It’s an indicator that thriving the National Main Street Center. “This research only reinforces what downtowns don’t just happen. They occur when there is a shared communities throughout Michigan have known for years: Main Street vision and a sense of identity that communities large and small works,” Frey said. “Even during our nation’s greatest recession, Michigan work together to revive their downtowns.” Main Street districts saw twice as many new businesses open than the national average. Lorem Ipsum Rypkema’s analysis of the economic impact of the Michigan Main Street program includes several key findings: • Since the beginning of the program, for every $1 invested in the Michigan Main Street Center, the Michigan districts have seen downtown building investment of $67 • For every $1 invested in the Michigan Main Street Center, localities provided $16 in public improvement investments • Since the beginning of the program in 2003, 250 net new businesses have been established and over 1,300 net new jobs have been created in Main Street districts • Throughout the most recent recession, Michigan Main Street districts outperformed the national average with more than twice as many businesses opened than closed • In the last 10 years, over 250 buildings have been purchased in Main Street districts • Rehabilitation and façade projects in Main Street districts have generated an average of 214 Michigan jobs and over $9 million in paychecks every year since the program began • Just the improvements to Main Street district buildings have meant an increase in local property tax revenue of in excess of $3 million this year Volunteers play a critical role in Main Street organizations. Cumulatively, the value of the hours of Michigan Main Street volunteers totals nearly $8 million Fourth of July block Party The Grayling Main Street Program would like to send a great thank you to all of those who volunteered for the Fourth of July Block Party. It was great to see a majority of the community on Michigan Ave. in Downtown Grayling. Without the support of volunteers these community events would be impossible to have. Along with the support of volunteers we would also like to thank all of those that contributed donations to event. These donations benefit the program greatly when creating such events as the Block Party. We hope that we can continue to receive your support in the future. The Fourth of July Block party was a great way to showcase downtown Grayling and all that it has to offer from the business currently there along with the potential the Grayling Main Street has. The Grayling Youth Boosters put on great fundraising events along with great activities for children during the Fourth of July day. The Pancake breakfast was a great way to show support for the Christmas Walk while enjoying breakfast on Michigan Avenue. The afternoon was full of great food and great music. The music led all the way up the beginning of the Fireworks presentation. I enjoyed seeing the community enjoying themselves down on Michigan Avenue and it created a moment of a vibrant downtown full of people within the community. This moment that showed during the Block Party is what the Main Street Program hopes to sustain in the future so that people will know that Michigan Avenue to Norway Street is a place where families and friends can enjoy themselves. The Grayling Main Street Program looks forward to spending future Fourth of July Block parties with you and your family and friends. We hope that we can continue to improve upon these festivals and events so that they will become something that the entire community will look forward to attending each year that it is held. Thank you again to everyone that volunteered, donated and attended the Fourth of July Block Party and we look forward to hearing suggestions for next years event. 3 CONTACT INFORMATION OFFICE: LOCATED AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE From the Managers Desk Hello, I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July weekend! It has now been a month that I have been in Grayling. I have enjoyed meeting many of the residents of Grayling and hopefully work with you in the future. The community has been very supportive of Main Street and its efforts to improve 213 North James Street PO Box 406 Grayling, MI 49738 the downtown. The Main Street’s Four-Point approach through promotion, organization, design and economic restructuring will continue to improve the downtown district. So why is the Main Street Program important for residents and businesses that live outside of the district? Creating a vibrant downtown Grayling will create economic development throughout the surrounding areas CURRENT OFFICE HOURS of Grayling along with the entire Crawford County area. The goal of creating a more distinct vibrant downtown will establish a sustainable tourism base. This tourism base will bring in more MONDAY- 9-12 PM shoppers, outdoorsmen, fisherman, etc. Along with creating a stronger sustainable tourism base it TUESDAY- 9-12 PM will also establish a community in which people will want to live in, not just visit. With more WEDNESDAY: 1-4 PM people moving to Grayling the city can establish a greater tax base that will eventually lead to a better community. New businesses are beginning to become established downtown and also future THURSDAY: 1-4 PM businesses will begin to fill in the vacant buildings. It is important to remember that Main Streets FRIDAY: 9-12 PM approach to the revitalization of downtown Grayling will be a process. This process will be a OR BY APPOINTEMENT *Also while my office hours are during times in which it is difficult to meet with business owners most of my time I will be downtown Grayling. group effort from the entire community. Businesses will have to work together toward the simple goal of bringing more people to the community. The Main Street Downtown Grayling Community Clean-Up day was a great success, not only because we helped present a cleaner more friendly downtown, but it also showed the downtown business district that the community cares about how their downtown. Each volunteer that helped showed the businesses that have a clean more vibrant downtown is a goal that we will continue to strive for. We would also like to thank all of you that attended the Fourth of July Block Party. It was great to see the Grayling Community all together in one area supporting local CURRENT CONTACT INFORMATION organizations. The amount of volunteer support for the event was amazing and we would to thank all of you that helped in any way. We look forward to working with you in the future. My office is located in the Chamber of Commerce building/City Park if you like to stop by and chat. If you EMAIL: [email protected] cannot find me there than most commonly I will be downtown on Michigan Avenue going in and out of the local businesses. I can also be reached at (989) 390-7689 or at [email protected]. Thank you all again for such great community support and we look forward to working with you soon, Office-phone: (989) 390-7689 Riley Hollenbaugh Grayling Main Street Manager Lorem Ipsum Ausable Fabrics & More Grand Opening AuSable Fabrics & More held its grand opening on July 18th and 19th. The event held free demonstrations, hourly giveaways and raffles along with refreshments & cake. It was a great day for the grand opening and the Grayling Community showed a lot of support for the new fabric store opening in downtown Grayling. The two-day event was a great way to showcase all of what AuSable Fabrics and more has to offer. The Pajama Strip Weekend is September 27th and 28th at AuSable Fabrics & More. The cost is $50.00 which includes meals. There will be gifts for the ugliest, the prettiest, and the most creative pajama's, comfy clothes. You will need to buy your fabric! Come and join us for a FUN FILLED WEEKEND! Please call 989-745-2988 or stop in to register. AuSable Fabrics & More are open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 7p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. River Festival / Canoe Marathon The 2014 River Festival and Canoe Marathon was my first. As an outsider, who has only lived in Grayling for a little over a month, it was great to see a week full of great activities for all ages throughout the Grayling Downtown and the surrounding areas. I was amazed at all the activity downtown Grayling and how it benefited all of the businesses. How many people from outside of Grayling and Crawford County along with all local Grayling Community that supports these events is amazing. I was also very astounded by how many volunteers helped the Chamber of Commerce put on these events. Kids Day and the HUP race specifically was awesome and the community support for these events just shows how well these events are organized and how well the community perceives these events as positive influences on the Grayling Community. *Grayling Main Street operates as a sub-committee of the Downtown Development Authority that follows the National Main Streets Four-Point Approach. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraylingMS Twitter: @GraylingMainSt
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