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YAN\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LANSING, Mich. \u2013 Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Hamtramck has been selected by the MEDC to take part in the Select Level of the Michigan Main Street (MMS) program (https:\/\/www.miplace.org\/programs\/michigan-main-street\/<\/a>).
As part of the Select Level of the MMS program, they will receive five years of intensive technical assistance from MEDC with a focus on revitalization strategies designed to generate activity through new retail businesses and events, fostering pride in this culturally diverse and historically significant Southeast Michigan community.
\u201cMichigan\u2019s main streets create jobs, grow small businesses, and make our communities vibrant places to live, work, and play,\u201d said Governor Whitmer. \u201cOur placemaking efforts are centered around creating good-paying jobs, attracting talent, and building strong neighborhoods. With the support of the Main Street program and Team Michigan, we will continue to transform the downtowns and commercial districts throughout Michigan. Congratulations to Hamtramck on their Select Level designation. Let\u2019s keep working together to help more families and small businesses \u2018make it\u2019 in Michigan.\u201d
The MMS program builds upon the existing infrastructure in a district to support vibrancy and strengthen a sense of place. Local leaders are empowered to guide tailored on-the-ground economic development efforts to foster small businesses, bring more customers to the neighborhood, revitalize the built environment and cultivate community pride.
\u201cBuilt \u2018the right way\u2019 in the 1910s and 1920s, the Jos. Campau corridor is a place that\u2019s too good to fake, and probably too costly to ever build again,\u201d said Milo Madole, board chair for the Hamtramck Downtown Development Authority (DDA). \u201cIt\u2019s one of those few quintessentially American streets that has remained true to its roots, even as it has organically evolved in rhythm with the city and country around it. Through several stormy decades of shaky public finances and intermittently encroaching blight, Hamtramck\u2019s historic core rode the waves and served as a continual source of employment, recreation, and pride for the community. And now, as the City and Hamtramck DDA work towards revitalization and capturing recent momentum, we are incredibly excited to be paired with the resources of the MEDC as a Michigan Main Street Select Level City.\u202fThe Hamtramck DDA is already deeply grateful to the MEDC for the technical assistance and support provided to date, and we eagerly anticipate working together towards the next chapter in Hamtramck\u2019s downtown.\u201d
Hamtramck joins 22 other districts already benefiting from participation in the Main Street program. To view a map of the current Michigan Main Street communities, visit here (https:\/\/www.miplace.org\/48e09b\/globalassets\/documents\/maps\/mainstreetmap.pdf<\/a>).
\u201cThe MEDC is pleased to support communities across Michigan and invest in their resilience as part of our \u2018Make It in Michigan\u2019 economic strategy\u2019s placemaking efforts, developing downtowns and commercial districts to grow vibrant, unique places,\u201d said MEDC SVP of Community Planning and Development Readiness Michele Wildman. \u201cPrograms like Michigan Main Street provide communities with the tools needed to create jobs, cultivate community investment, and build a sense of place for Michigan residents. We look forward to seeing how the Hamtramck community grows over the next five years.\u201d
\u201cWe are honored to be designated a Michigan Main Street Select community,\u201d said Isabel Allaway, Community & Economic Development manager\/DDA director. \u201cThrough the leadership of our DDA and City, we will fully leverage this opportunity to usher in a new era of investment, beautification, and long-term stability\u2014building on the current momentum in our downtown. Hamtramck is a place known for giving newcomers to Michigan and the U.S. their start, and that spirit positions us to turn challenges into opportunities through innovation and education. The Select designation provides critical support to help the seeds we\u2019ve already planted grow. We are grateful for the confidence placed in our \u2018world in two square miles\u2019 as we move forward together.\u201d
Over the past year, MMS communities generated more than $9.1 million in private investment, 93 new businesses and 83 fa\u00e7ade improvements and building rehabilitations. Since its inception in 2003, Michigan Main Street has been a catalyst for job growth, private investment and community engagement. From 2003 through 2025, 2,126 total businesses have been launched, with a total public investment of more than $165 million and total private investment of $482 million. In addition, 29,220 volunteer hours were recorded in 2025 in the task of revitalizing downtowns and commercial districts across the state .<\/p>\n