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Downtown Development Authority
Meeting Times
4th Wednesday of every month at 8:00am
For meeting minutes, Click Here.
Location
Henry L. Brown Municipal Building
1 Grand Street
Coldwater, MI 49036
City Council Chambers
Members
Under the guidance of the DDA, with assistance from the City’s Neighborhood Services Department, the Committee will be comprised of 3 citizen members and representatives from the City Planning and Historic District Commissions. The Branch District Library, American Legion, Altrusa, and the Coldwater Garden Club have also been asked to designate a representative to serve on the Committee.
- Michael J. Caywood
Term: October, 2018 - September, 2022 - John Rucker
Term: October, 2019 - October, 2023 - Thomas Kramer, Mayor
Term: November, 2011 - November, 2021 - Jenny Rakocy
Term: November, 2012 - September, 2021 - Brad Rockey
Term: March, 1991 - September, 2021 - Jennifer Wingard
Term: August, 2016 - September, 2023 - Val Johnson
Term: September, 2018 - September, 2022 - Courtney Dirschell
Term: August, 2019 - September, 2024 - Curt MacRae
Term: October, 2020 - September, 2024
Term Length
Authority Member term length is 4 years.
Beautiful Downtown Coldwater
Located on historic Heritage Route US-12, just west of I-69 and only 12 miles from the Indiana border, Downtown Coldwater has the charm of a Victorian era city but with modern amenities such as a free Electric Vehicle Charging Station.
Our historic downtown storefronts with their unique architecture, welcome you in to browse (and hopefully purchase!) everything from specialty gifts and jewelry to quality furniture. Feeling hungry? Then enjoy a tasty meal at one of our many coffee shops, restaurants or pubs or share your picnic lunch with a friend in Four Corners Park.
Current Projects & Activities
Building Improvement Program: Rebates and Low Interest Loans
Click here for the program guidelines.
COVID-19 Business Support Rebate
The DDA has allocated funding to help cover the costs of expenses associated with new health and safety precautions that are required to help combat the spread of COVID-19. A rebate of %75, up to $500, is allowed per business for eligible expenses. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Print Advertisements
We continue to place print advertisements in publications with regional and widespread impact. These include the Coldwater Country Visitor’s Guide, Lake Access Magazine, and the Tibbits playbill.
Social Media
In 2019 Facebook and Instagram pages were created for Downtown Coldwater. We are happy to be able to reach our local and regional audiences using these platforms, and to create positive messaging for the downtown. We now create our own content and share the events, programs, sales, and good news of our fellow downtown businesses and organizations.
Seasonal Planters & Decorations
We pride ourselves on having beautiful flowers and decorations on display each season throughout downtown. Our large planters are a crowd favorite in the summer. Fall brings a change of color and materials before festive holiday décor and lights are installed in November and December.
Banner Updates
Banner designs and color schemes are often updated throughout downtown. Banners are used to label parking lots, to celebrate visitors to our region, and to celebrate the seasons.
“Taylor’s Building” Purchase
The DDA purchased the former Taylor’s building during the November 2019 regular meeting. It is the goal of the Authority to use this building as a development tool and to offer incentives to the developer(s) of a project which meets the goals of the community and our downtown overall. Access it's RFQ by clicking here.
Accomplishments
Match on Main Recipient
In 2020, the DDA applied for a Match on Main Grant to support 9 of our downtown businesses impacted by COVID-19 and were one of a handful communities selected to receive grant funds. We received $35,000 through the Match on Main program and distributed awards ranging from $2,000-$10,000.
Façade Renovations
Funds from the DDA Rebate Program have been earmarked for 11 projects in the 2020 fiscal year. Over $1,000,000 in private investment has been committed to downtown during the first 13 months of the program.
Social Media Growth
Over 1,000 Facebook followers and individual post reach over 15,000.
Bike Rack Installation
Sponsored Events
Business for Breakfast- Michigan Retailers Association.
The DDA is sponsoring the February 2020 Business-for-Breakfast event through the Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce. Meegan Holland from Michigan Retailer’s Association will give a presentation on Downtown Revitalization.
Active RFQs for Downtown Properties
Small Town Design Initiative Moves Forward
The Coldwater Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is taking the next step towards revitalization of Four Corners Park with the formation of the Small Town Design Initiative (STDI) Project Steering Committee.
The STDI is a program of Michigan State University's (MSU) Planning and Landscape Architecture Department which has worked with many small communities throughout Michigan who've utilized the design concepts provided by the STDI program to further their beatification and community revitalization efforts. The program was brought to Coldwater as a joint effort between the City of Coldwater and the Coldwater Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
Contracts
As part of its effort to carry out the goals and objectives of the Authority, the Coldwater DDA has hired the following businesses for contractual services over the course of 2019:
Neitzert’s Greenhouse & Florist
Neitzert’s installs and maintains floral decorations seasonally in Downtown Coldwater.
Unspent Revenues
Unspent revenues that accumulated during any of the past 5-10 fiscal years were set aside for use towards large and/or long-term projects. Some of the DDA’s net revenues resulted from the annual budget while other surpluses were realized from a building sale. These positive net revenues have been deployed for parking lot improvements and renovations, development opportunities, the façade improvement rebate program, and other projects.
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Keith Baker
City ManagerPhone: 517-279-6911
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Audrey Tappenden
Economic Development AssistantPhone: (517) 279-9531 X 6913