In MI Downtown

Sam Plymale, Plymouth DDA's Executive Director, discusses the why and how of the creation of Downtown Plymouth's 2024 Five-Year Strategic Plan, followed up with a brief outline of what is included in the plan and lessons learned. Downtown directors can learn what might trigger the need for completion of a plan and the best practices to follow during its creation.

Sam completed this podcast as part of his capstone project for the MDA's Professional Development Certificate Program. Congratulations on this achievement, Sam!

Once a Spartan, always a Spartan! Learn what DDA and farm life is like for Sparta DDA Executive Director Elizabeth Morse. Hear more about her journey from being a high schooler who wanted to leave her town to being one of its most impactful leaders. Downtown directors are the heartbeat of their communities and Liz is no exception. This is The Pulse, a special edition of In MI Downtown.

In this episode of The Pulse, we learn about the nexus of downtown management, youth sports and landscape architecture from Downtown Frankenmuth's Dan Hopp. Join MDA Executive Director Dana Walker as she talks with Dan about flowers, hockey and partnerships with the DDA Director of Michigan's Little Bavaria!

Many MI communities follow the Main Street approach to assist with creating a road map for successful downtown revitalization. But, Main Street brings its own strengths and weaknesses with it. Learn how two MI communities have navigated the highs and lows of Main Street with guests Kate Litwin from Downtown Howell and Polly Schneider from Downtown Cheboygan.

Meet Natacha Hayden, a Brazil native who started her career in downtown management along a rather unusual path. MDA Executive Director Dana Walker interviews Natacha about futbol, living near the water and Downtown Port Huron's revitalization progress.

Funding diversification for downtowns is a popular topic and certain projects might be right for a crowd-granting program. We talked with Patronicity's MI Program Director Mahala Clayton about the Public Spaces, Community Places Program. Learn how you can use this important tool to leap over that last fundraising hurdle and get shovels in the ground!

This episode of In MI Downtown is part of our special series of interviews with Michigan's fabulous downtown directors that we call The Pulse. We learn from Tara Laase-McKinney from the Marquette DDA how her background and experiences, and recreational interests, led her to thrive in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Host Dana Walker, MDA Executive Director, leads the Q&A.

Downtown directors are the heartbeat of their communities and we want to get better acquainted with our fantastic MI staffers. In this episode, we find out more about what makes the Oxford DDA's Kelly Westbrook tick. Learn about her journey from the Detroit Pistons to Nascar to downtown work, with a little side gig as Mrs. Michigan! It's all on The Pulse, a special series of In MI Downtown.

Prompted in part by the 2020 pandemic, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation identified a need to assist Michigan communities for planning for the unexpected so that they might recover in an organized and expedient manner. Through its Redevelopment Ready Communities Program, the Resiliency Toolkit was created to formalize current recovery efforts into plans, policies, and partnerships. Learn the highlights from the MEDC's Pablo Majano and Leigh Young, and Catherine Clark from the SmithGroup.

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