Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Four Michigan Main Street Communities Achieve Milestone Anniversaries
The communities of Adrian, Coldwater, Old Town Lansing and Rogers City are celebrating milestone Michigan Main Street designation anniversaries in 2026, highlighting the impact of the MEDC’s placemaking efforts to support the continued success of the state’s downtown and neighborhood commercial districts
Since 2003, Michigan Main Street (MMS) has assisted communities across Michigan interested in revitalizing and preserving their historic traditional downtowns or commercial districts. A total of 24 communities currently participate in the MMS program at the Select and Master levels, working to add vibrancy to Michigan’s communities and improve the quality of life for Michiganders throughout the state.
In 2026, four MMS communities will mark a celebration as they reach milestone anniversaries in their journey toward revitalization and growth: Adrian, Coldwater and Rogers City (five years), and Old Town Lansing (20 years).
These milestone anniversaries recognize years of dedication and local pride and testify to the impact of placemaking programs from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to help build stronger, more resilient communities.
5 Year Anniversaries
In 2021, the communities of Adrian, Coldwater and Rogers City were chosen for the Select Level of the MMS program.
Adrian
Located in Southeast Michigan, Downtown Adrian serves as the heart of the community where people come to shop, eat, enjoy events and spend time together. Adrian is focused on creating a downtown that celebrates its history, arts and culture while creating safe and inviting places for people to gather.
“This anniversary is really a celebration of the people who believe in downtown Adrian – the business owners, volunteers, residents and partners who keep showing up and investing in its future,” said Board Chair Darcy Gilfford. “Michigan Main Street has given us a proven blueprint for that work. This milestone is a chance to celebrate how far downtown Adrian has come and think seriously about where we want to take it next.”
In June 2026, the Downtown Adrian Main Street DDA was awarded a $25,000 Match on Main grant to support Mandy Makes N’ Bakes. The Match on Main program serves as a tool to support new or expanding place-based businesses as they launch and grow in core downtown areas and commercial districts.
Adrian is also engaged with the MEDC’s Redevelopment Ready Communities program, achieving an Essentials designation in March 2023. To achieve this designation, communities like Adrian work to incorporate all the key documents and practices to provide a predictable development experience and meet local planning and zoning responsibilities under Michigan law.
As of 2025, Adrian welcomed 22 new businesses, eight façade/building rehabilitations, 4,483 volunteer hours and $225,000 in private investment since becoming an MMS community.
Coldwater
Also celebrating its five-year anniversary as an MMS community, Coldwater in South Central Michigan is bringing people, businesses, arts and culture together to make downtown a place where people want to live, visit and spend time. They are also working to improve buildings and public spaces and bring more businesses downtown.
The City of Coldwater and the DDA/Main Street have been very strategic in purchasing historic properties downtown and facilitating redevelopment, including bringing the Children’s Museum of Branch County downtown with the support of the MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places crowdfunding program in September 2022 and a Match on Main grant in July 2025.
Arts and culture are becoming a big part of what makes Downtown Coldwater special. Coldwater received a Main Street Vibrancy program grant in June 2025 to support the installation of murals and sculptures as part of its public art program. And events like Hops on Monroe, Strawberry Fest, Apple Fest and Art After Hours are creating a more active and welcoming downtown. Coldwater received certification as a Redevelopment Ready Community in February 2026.
“Becoming a Main Street organization five years ago has provided Downtown Coldwater with a proven framework for revitalization; including valuable resources, training and connections to help move projects forward,” said Kristen Johnson, DDA/Main Street Director for the City of Coldwater. “Most importantly, it has helped us strengthen our downtown business community, encourage and leverage investment opportunities, support downtown entrepreneurs and position us as a key driver of Coldwater’s overall economic vitality. We continue to see the positive impact throughout our downtown and look forward to what the next five years will bring.”
As of 2025, Coldwater welcomed 20 new businesses, 32 façade/building rehabilitations, 1,970 volunteer hours and over $2.8 million in private investment since becoming an MMS community.
Rogers City
Finally, Rogers City on the sunrise side of Northern Michigan is embracing its location on Lake Huron, history, arts and outdoor activities to help make downtown a great place for both residents and visitors.
Community leadership is strong and the Main Street program has helped community stakeholders, partners and leaders be more connected to each other and work collaboratively for the betterment of Rogers City. Through events, activities and public art such as the MEDC-supported Murals on Main Festival, Rogers City is giving people more reasons to enjoy both downtown and Lake Huron.
In June 2026, Rogers City Main Street received a $20,000 Match on Main grant in support of the Beauty Boutique, and in June 2025 received a Main Street Vibrancy grant to support a Community Nook, a community gathering space in a vacant, underutilized location downtown. The same year Rogers City became an MMS community, it also received certification as a Redevelopment Ready Community, illustrating the local interest and investment in its growth.
“Five years into our Michigan Main Street journey, the difference in Rogers City is something people can see, feel and talk about,” said Kaelie Fessler, executive director, Rogers City Main Street/DDA. “We hear it often from residents and visitors alike: there is a different energy here. Our community feels more alive. There are more reasons to get out, attend something, meet someone new, support a local business, or simply be part of what is happening downtown. Our businesses are working harder than ever to make their spaces inviting and engaging, and our community has embraced the idea that a vibrant downtown is something we all have a hand in creating. It is often said that it takes a village. Rogers City is proving that it takes a group of people who care. That care has become contagious. The pride, passion and love people have for this community and for one another seems to spread every time someone says yes to volunteering, opens their doors, creates something, attends an event, or simply shows up. We have even seen a small increase in our population in each of the past five years. It may only be a few people at a time, but we believe every person matters, and every person who chooses Rogers City matters.”
As of 2025, Rogers City welcomed 13 new businesses, 18 façade/building rehabilitations, 8,526 volunteer hours and over $497,000 in private investment since becoming an MMS community.
20 Year Anniversary: Old Town Lansing
As an MMS community for the last two decades, Old Town Lansing has worked to support local businesses, improve the area and keep the unique character that makes it special. In 1996, the Old Town Commercial Association (OTCA) was created by invested property, business and community members in the Old Town district, recognizing the need for a collective voice and representation of space that had over 95% retail vacancy at that point in time.
Over the last 30 years, the OTCA has helped to flip the 95% vacancy rate to an over-95% retail occupancy rate, featuring eclectic boutiques and restaurants. Today, Old Town has become a place people want to visit, thanks to its art scene, shops, festivals and historic buildings.
"Old Town’s 20 years as a Main Street community has given us a way to turn big ideas into real results. Anyone who has volunteered, served on the board, or worked in Old Town knows that sometimes it can feel a little like herding cats. The Main Street program gets that. It gives us a framework to channel all that creativity, passion, and occasional chaos into something tangible. Instead of just talking about great ideas, Main Street gives us the tools and structure to actually make them happen, helping Old Town grow while protecting the character that makes this place so special."
Briana Wilson, Old Town Commercial Association President
The OTCA has supported and created hundreds of community events over the last 30 years and currently supports eight free-to-the-community events annually. In the past year alone, Old Town experienced exponential growth in all supported events, including Old Town Artfeast, Old Town Krampusnacht, Lansing Pride and Old Town Scrapfest.
Most recently, Old Town Lansing received a Main Street Vibrancy grant in June 2025 for the installation of string lights along the 1200 block of Turner Street and a $24,898 Match on Main grant in June 2026 to support Zick and Nach LLC.
As of 2025, Old Town Lansing welcomed 131 new businesses, 135 façade/building rehabilitations, 64,796 volunteer hours and over $16 million in private investment since becoming an MMS community.
Although it has been only six years since moving my business to a Michigan Main Street District, the benefits have been unmistakably helpful. The structure and support fostering economic vitality as well as preservation aligned with my desire to be more than just a business. It meant being part of a community who values my business and it’s being part of stable growth within the district. Between community events and promotion truly making Old Town a special place. 20 years strong has set people up for success and sustainability building a destination space that is balanced and full of vibrancy.
Old Town Lansing is located within the City of Lansing, a Certified Redevelopment Ready Community since 2017.
“Celebrating 20 years as a Main Street organization is really a celebration of the people who have believed in Old Town and invested their time and energy into this place,” said James Lenon, executive director, Old Town Commercial Association. “For two decades, the Main Street approach has helped us turn community passion into meaningful action like supporting small businesses, preserving our neighborhood’s character, creating amazing experiences and continually investing in the future of the district. Twenty years doesn’t happen because of one organization or one person. It happens because generations of business owners, residents, volunteers, partners and leaders keep showing up and believing in what Old Town can be.”