9/11/14 - Officials say the results of a state-wide study gauging the economic impacts of Howellâs Main Street DDA program demonstrate success and are something to celebrate. The Michigan Main Street Program is celebrating its ten year anniversary while Howell will be doing so in 2015. It put out a ten year summary of the economic benefits across the state of having Michigan Main Street Programs and what they do to invest in downtowns. As Howell is one of its longest running programs, it was used as one of the survey communities for an economic impact study analyzing the last decade of data. The Howell Main Street Downtown Development Authority has brought a lot of positive changes to the downtown but not just changes in terms of businesses and creating new jobs according to Director Cathleen Edgerly. She says it has an even stronger economic impact on the downtown as a result of the Main Street /DDA partnership that is fairly unique to Howellâs program. Edgerly tells WHMI statistics for their program show 15 new businesses were created over the past year, resulting in more than 25 new jobs. New construction and rehabilitation since Howell is focused on historic preservation, brought in more than $896,000 in public and private investment. Edgerly says thereâs limited staff but because of the Main Street component, they have volunteers who dedicate countless hours of their time and talents. The numbers show those volunteers log more than 4,000 hours every year, which Edgerly says equates to over $83,000 invested in the community. The results of the economic impact study were first presented during a retreat earlier this week with Main Street managers and DDA directors from across the state but will be formally presented to the community during an event later this month. (JM)
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