Advertise on podcast: In MI Downtown

MDA Executive Director Dana Walker, along with members of the organizational Advocacy Committee, discusses the value and details of the upcoming annual visit with legislators in Michigan's Capitol in Lansing. Thank you to James Alt, Kate Knight and Nate Mack for your contributions.

In this episode of The Pulse, Dana Walker speaks with Jeff Genova, the Downtown Development Authority Coordinator for Holland, Michigan. They discuss Jeff's journey from managing a brewery to his current role in city government, emphasizing the importance of community collaboration and relationships with local businesses. Jeff shares insights about the innovative infrastructure in Holland, including a snow melt system and a new ice skating ribbon, which enhance the downtown experience year-round. The conversation also touches on cultural differences between Michigan and the South, Jeff's passion for cooking and photography, and future developments in Holland.

In this episode of In MI Downtown, Bob Hahn from Farmington Hills-based lighting supplier Lumecon discusses advances in the lighting industry, the Dark Skies Initiative and the importance of lighting to downtown safety and ambiance.

In the March, 2025 episode of In MI Downtown, we discussed Facade Incentive Programs with Boyne City's Ingrid Day. As a follow-up to that conversation, we invited Michigan's State Historic Preservation Office to explain in more detail the design guidelines that are necessary to consider whether or not to approve a facade application. SHPO's CLG and Community Preservation Coordinator Haley Schriber answers my questions about the creation of design guidelines, which components are key and who needs to be part of the process.

Combining specialties to create the boutique consulting firm GD Placemaking, Lindsey Dotson and Rae Gosling offer services to communities for project management, Main Street consulting and small business support. The Michigan Downtown Association and GD Placemaking are joining forces to offer a consulting package to a business applicant from a Michigan downtown. Find out more by listening in.

Looking for a unique way to engage your downtown visitors in any season? Find out more about Ice Guru Events from owner Randy Finch. From ice sculpting to bubble clouds, services from Ice Guru Events can help activate downtown spaces and captivate event goers with immersive experiences!

Facade Improvement Programs are a tool long-used by DDAs and Main Street Programs to compel, support and incentivize improvements that add to a downtown's historic character and quality. In today's episode, we learn some best practices from Main Street Boyne City's Ingrid Day.

Coordination and communication are key ingredients to a healthy relationship with city leaders who are looking to their DDAs for economic development success. Paul Zelenak, long-time volunteer with the MDA and an experienced city manager who understands the value that DDAs bring, offers his perspective and experiences on building a better relationship with your CVT council in this episode of In MI Downtown.

Downtown directors are the heartbeat of their communities! And, Mike McGuiness has been integrally involved in the workings of not one, but two communities with his creative and positive leadership style. Learn how Mike has straddled Woodward Avenue in Oakland County, Michigan, to follow his passion for community-building in Berkley and Pontiac. Do not miss this fast-paced discussion about a life-long pursuit of community service.

Michigan's downtown directors are the heartbeat of their communities! And, we'd like to get to know them better. In this special episode of The Pulse/In MI Downtown, we learn more about Downtown Wixom's Laura Cloutier who is entering her fifth year of downtown management. Learn about Laura's childhood in Southfield, her path to the downtown career field, and her passion for flower gardens and charcuterie boards! Laura was interviewed by MDA Executive Director Dana Walker.

At its 2024 annual conference, the MDA announced the recipients of four awards for excellence! In this episode, we learn about the awards and the community reactions from the respective DDA Directors in Farmington, Wixom, Sparta and Lake Orion. Congratulations to the winners! A special podcast featuring Downtown Milford's award winning Central Park will soon be available!

Need help getting out your downtown's story? Community branding and downtown marketing work hand-in-hand to provide a platform for you to raise awareness and to attract more visitors. Learn the latest trends from Kim Rivera, owner of New Moon Visions, a long-time supporter of downtowns and the MDA!

The membership of the Michigan Downtown Association meets this November, 2024, for its annual fall conference in one of Michigan's premier downtowns, Ann Arbor! Guests Dana Walker, MDA ED, and Maura Thomson, A2 DDA ED, share the conference highlights and the top things to see and do while visiting this great college town. Go Blue and get smarter about downtown revitalization.

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.