Michigan Main Street Now Accepting Applications for the Associate Main Street Program

LANSING, Mich., Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan Main Street Center is taking applications for the Associate Main Street program now through November 2.

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The Michigan Main Street Center works with communities large and small, urban and rural, helping them to grow into thriving, innovative and creative centers of commerce for both people and businesses. The Michigan Main Street program's purpose is to support and improve Michigan's downtowns and traditional neighborhood commercial districts by promoting and implementing the Main Street Four-Point Approach®. The program is part of Governor Snyder's placemaking efforts to create vibrant communities across Michigan. These efforts are based on numerous studies showing that investing in placemaking creates vibrant centers and downtowns, making the state economically stronger. Currently, 40 communities participate in the Michigan Main Street program across the state.

Michigan Main Street Associate services are available to communities by application and include a series of trainings intended to give local residents, businesses and property owners the tools necessary to develop fully-functioning grassroots community development organizations.

Applications for the Associate Main Street program can be found on the organization's website at www.michiganmainstreetcenter.org. Applications are due to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority's (MSHDA) Lansing location by 4:00 p.m. Friday, November 2.

Communities wishing to become a Michigan Main Street community or those who would like more information regarding the Michigan Main Street Associate level are encouraged to contact Laura Krizov at (517) 241-4237 (krisovl@michigan.gov).

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents and to engage in community economic development activities to revitalize urban and rural communities.*

*MSHDA's loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds as well as notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. Proceeds are loaned at below-market interest rates to developers of rental housing, and help fund mortgages and home improvement loans. MSHDA also administers several federal housing programs. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mshda

SOURCE Michigan State Housing Development Authority

RELATED LINKS
http://www.michigan.gov/mshda