For all the best information about how to make a great downtown, check out the new Michigan Main Street Center website.  You can learn about how a small town, like Rogers City can become a healthy and vibrant place.  Rogers City is working dilligently to become a Main Street Community--a growing community lead by volunteer citizens who seek to revitalize the heart of our town.  Learn more about the Main Street program at this website:

http://www.michiganmainstreetcenter.com/Home.aspx

If you want to get involved in Rogers City's Main Street Associate program, please contact me.  There is room for everyone who wants to help this community.  You will find just the right sort of fun thing that you want to do.  We have traditional committee work in four areas (promotion, design, organization, and business development), but we also have hands-on activity such as doing downtown decorations, helping conduct community events, providing marketing assistance, providing IT assistance to local business, website development, using social media, helping people in need, helping people start new businesses, planting flowers, community art and music, and more--Rogers City's Main Street Associate Program has a need for almost every skill and talent.  We have a great group of people, including our Main Street gang. We want you to be part of rebuilding this community!

Labels: Main Street Associate, Michigan Main Street Center

The Michigan Main Street Center has released the new schedule of Associate Level training. As a Main Street Associate, Rogers City is allowed to attend these training session at no cost. Our goal is to revitalize our downtown and to become a "Selected Level" Main Street city by 2010. We need to attend this training to reach our goal.

The training is very high quality. Local people who have attended this training include: Judy McFalda, Beach Hall, Gary Rickard, and Bill Valentine. They all commented favorably on the value and usefulness of this training. It will help businesses improve their bottomline and teach volunteers how to improve our downtown. Chamber of Commerce Members are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Here is the schedule of taining:

Main Street Basic Training

+ October 15: Niles, Wonderland Theater
+ October 21: Manistee, City Hall

Organization/Promotion 101

+ November 13: Old Town, Perspective 2
+ November 19: Clare, Doherty Hotel

Economic Restructuring/Design 101

+ January 15: Grand Haven, Community Center
+ Janurary 21: Portland, City Hall

Main Street Practice

+ February 11: Howell, Cleary's Pub
+ February 25: Boyne City, Library

These training sessions last about 5-6 hours, and depending on location may require an overnight.

I will attempt to arrange or provide transportation for anyone from our area who wants to attend. You would be responsible for your own meals and lodging, and you can ask the Community Development Authority (CDA) Board to reimburse your expenses.

You do not need to be a member of our Main Street Associate Program or of the CDA Board to participate; however, we would like you to get involved in making Rogers City's downtown a better place! There is a place for everyone in our Main Street Associate Program.

Labels: Michigan Main Street Center