PODCAST · government
In MI Downtown
by Michigan Downtown Association
In MI Downtown features impactful projects and programs happening in downtowns throughout the State of Michigan. IMD is a production of the Michigan Downtown Association.
Episodes
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In MI Downtown - Farmington is a GAMSA Winner!
Downtown Farmington continues to reach higher levels in place making and economic development, recently culminating in the receipt of the Great American Main Street Award from Main Street America. Learn from director Jess Westendorf how the work to receive this honor evolved over twenty years of...
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In MI Downtown - Revolving Loan Funds
This episode of In MI Downtown explores the concept of revolving loan funds, their benefits, challenges, and best practices for downtown development and small business support. Guests Josh, Sam and Lizzie share insights from Michigan communities on how these funds foster economic vitality and...
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In MI Downtown - Downtown Marketing with Catalyst Media Factory
In this episode, MDA Executive Director Dana Walker interviews Jennifer Foster, CEO of Catalyst Media Factory, about how small businesses can leverage PR and social media to thrive in downtown areas. They discuss practical strategies for marketing, building community relationships, and adapting…
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In MI Downtown - Public Policy Primer with MML
This podcast features an insightful discussion with Shanna Dreheim, Policy Director at the Michigan Municipal League, exploring the fundamentals of public policy and its impact on downtown development and community revitalization in Michigan.
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In MI Downtown - Partner Focus - MI Retailers
In this episode, Dana Walker discusses the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) with Vic Veda and Burke Sage. They explore the benefits of MRA membership, including legislative advocacy, merchant services, and community engagement through initiatives like the Buy Nearby campaign. The conversation...
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In MI Downtown - March 3 Advocacy Day
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.
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Jeff Genova
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...
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In MI Downtown - Lighting Lessons with Lumecon
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.
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In MI Downtown - Design Guidelines
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…
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In MI Downtown - Meet Our Friends at GD Placemaking
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...
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In MI Downtown - Ice Guru Events Intro
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!
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In MI Downtown - Facade Improvement Programs
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.
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In MI Downtown - Build a Better Relationship with City Leaders
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...
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Mike McGuinness
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...
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Laura Cloutier
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...
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In MI Downtown - 2024 MDA Award Winner Showcase
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...
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In MI Downtown - Downtown Branding & Marketing Trends
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!
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In MI Downtown - Fall Conference Preview
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…
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In MI Downtown - Plymouth's Five-Year Strategic Plan
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...
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Elizabeth Morse
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...
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Dan Hopp
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...
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In MI Downtown - Main Street Comes to Town
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…
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Natacha Hayden
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.
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In MI Downtown - Diversifying Funding with Crowdgranting
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...
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Tara Laase-McKinney
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...
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Kelly Westbrook
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…
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In MI Downtown - Resiliency Toolkit
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…
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In MI Downtown - Housing Solutions II
Downtowns are great places for people to live. Even its local workforce. But market demands and past development trends have effected this important demographic. Efforts to address workforce housing can include work by non-profit organizations called Community Land Trusts. This podcast is a Q&A...
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Amy Allen
Downtown Directors are the dedicated professionals who keep the hearts of our Michigan communities beating. And, we'd like to get to know them better. In this episode of In MI Downtown - The Pulse, Amy Allen, Executive Director of the Lyon Township DDA, explains how her background in Parks and...
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In MI Downtown - Summer Workshop Preview
Get ready for the MDA's Summer Workshop in Harbor Springs on Friday, May 31. Find out all you need to know before you attend! And, arrive early for the warm-up activities on May 30. Learn from MDA Executive Director why this workshop will be stellar!
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with James Alt
Downtown Directors are the dedicated professionals who keep the hearts of our Michigan communities beating. And, we'd like to get to know them better. In this episode of In MI Downtown - The Pulse, James Alt, ED of the Lapeer DDA, shares how his journey to downtown revitalization work happened by...
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Christine Malzahn
Downtown Directors are the dedicated professionals who keep the hearts of our Michigan communities beating. And, we'd like to get to know them better. In this episode of In MI Downtown - The Pulse, we get to know Christine Malzahn from the DDA in Imlay City, in Michigan's Thumb. With topics…
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In MI Downtown - The Pulse with Anne Gentry
Downtown Directors are the dedicated professionals who keep the hearts of our Michigan communities beating. And, we'd like to get to know them better. In this episode of In MI Downtown, we launch the Pulse, a special series of interviews with downtown directors from around the state. Hear their...
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In MI Downtown - Housing Solutions I
The scarcity of affordable and attainable housing is a national issue for which there is not a uniform solution for all communities. In this episode of In MI Downtown, learn what Charlevoix is doing to address the lack of housing that is available to the local workforce. Guest Lindsey Dotson, DDA...
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In MI Downtown - Everyone Except Ted
Make your downtown more inviting and evocative of a sense of safety by incorporating principles of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) in your planning and improvement processes. Special guest Harmony Gmazel from MSU-Extension offers on overview of CPTED principles and...
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In MI Downtown - Adapting Flint Township's Event Strategy
While the Covid pandemic spurred changes to the methods for hosting events in Flint Township, the positive response from both the community and business owners has led the DDA to make the adaptations permanent. In a place without a walkable downtown or a large community gathering place,...
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In MI Downtown - Fall 2023 Conference Preview
The Michigan Downtown Association will host its annual fall conference the first week in November in fabulous Downtown Birmingham! Dana Walker, MDA Executive Director, shares highlights from the conference agenda, while Birmingham PSD Executive Director Cristina Shepard-Decius provides her...
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In MI Downtown - DDA Reporting Requirements
Contained within Act 57 of 2018 are reporting requirements for DDAs, among other TIF authorities. Adherence to the reporting requirements helps to strengthen each DDA's relationship with the State of Michigan legislature and to provide performance data for the DDAs utilization of TIF funds.…
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In MI Downtown - Hiring a DDA Director
When Scott Csazak became City Manager of the City of Caro, in Michigan's thumb, he quickly saw on opportunity to strengthen the downtown through the hiring of a full-time DDA Executive Director. Learn how Scott fielded the array of issues and stakeholders to turn this idea into reality. Scott…
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In MI Downtown - Ann Arbor DDA's Parking Rate Study - Part II
The Ann Arbor DDA has engaged the services of a consultant to conduct a Parking Rate Study, in some respect due to changes in parking utilization noticed after the COVID pandemic. In a previous episode, Kelley Graves, DDA Office Manager, along with Jada Hahlbrook, Parking Manager, introduced the...
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In MI Downtown - Part II - Downtown Master Plans
In Part I of this series of In MI Downtown, we heard an overview about Downtown Master Plans. In this episode, we move from theoretical into practical with a discussion featuring Nani Wolf, AICP, CAPS, an associate planner with McKenna Associates. Nani describes her experience working with not…
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In MI Downtown - A Primer on Downtown Master Plans
This episode of In MI Downtown features a conversation with Paul Lippens, AICP, NCI from long-time MDA friends McKenna and Associates. Paul is a Vice President and Director of the Kalamazoo Studio. This podcast is Part I of II dealing with the value of Downtown Master Plans and important factors,...
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In MI Downtown - Summer Conference Preview
The Michigan Downtown Association is hosting its Summer (yay!) Workshop in Alpena, Michigan on June 2, 2023. Listen to this special edition of In MI Downtown to learn about workshop highlights and fun things to see and do in Alpena before or after the workshop. The workshop is about having it all...
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In MI Downtown - Ann Arbor's Parking Rate Study - Part I
In response to changes in parking utilization throughout the downtown district in Ann Arbor post-COVID, the Ann Arbor DDA has initiated the process of completion of a parking rate study. In this episode of In MI Downtown, we will hear from Kelley Graves, Ann Arbor DDA Management Assistant and…
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In MI Downtown - Advocacy Day and Spring Workshop Preview
The first MI Downtown Association workshop in 2023 combines Advocacy Day with state legislators, with a jam-packed workshop in East Lansing the following day. MDA Executive Director Dana Walker and East Lansing's Community and Economic Development Administrator Adam Cummins preview the workshop…
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In MI Downtown - Livable Winter Cities
Does your downtown district remain full of activity during the post-holiday colder winter months? You can make a difference in retaining vibrancy following best practices from the Winter Cities Guidebook. Learn more from Patrick Coleman of the Winter Cities Institute and North of 45 about...
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In MI Downtown - Make Downtown Merry, Bright and Busy
Downtowns need to remain relevant during the holiday shopping season (and beyond) as customers respond to latest trends and alternate methods. Special events, promotions and displays contribute to making a downtown merry, bright and busy during this important season of the calendar. We've…
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In MI Downtown - Middle Village Micro Market Incubates New Businesses in Downtown Lansing
Downtown Lansing launched the Middle Village Micro Market in 2021 and it's success has been phenomenal so far! Cathleen Edgerly, Executive Director of Downtown Lansing, Inc., and Julie Reinhardt, Director of Downtown Community Development, discuss the process to open this unique business…
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In MI Downtown - Fall Conference Preview and Muskegon To-Do List
This November 3 and 4, the Michigan Downtown Association will host its annual conference on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan in Downtown Muskegon. Listen in to find out more about conference highlights and to discover what there is to see and do nearby to make your stay more fun!
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In MI Downtown - Downtown Bay City "Goes To Pot"
Recreational marijuana dispensaries have sprouted up all over the State of Michigan since being legalized in 2018. Yet, many communities have removed themselves from contention for a location by opting out, as permitted by law. Are these communities overlooking an economic development…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
In MI Downtown features impactful projects and programs happening in downtowns throughout the State of Michigan. IMD is a production of the Michigan Downtown Association.
HOSTED BY
Michigan Downtown Association
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does In MI Downtown have?
In MI Downtown currently has 63 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is In MI Downtown about?
In MI Downtown features impactful projects and programs happening in downtowns throughout the State of Michigan. IMD is a production of the Michigan Downtown Association.
How often does In MI Downtown release new episodes?
In MI Downtown has 63 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to In MI Downtown?
You can listen to In MI Downtown on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts In MI Downtown?
In MI Downtown is created and hosted by Michigan Downtown Association.
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