Hamtramck named a Select Level Michigan Main Street Community

LANSING, Mich. – 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. 

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. 

“Michigan’s main streets create jobs, grow small businesses, and make our communities vibrant places to live, work, and play,” said Governor Whitmer. “Our 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’s keep working together to help more families and small businesses ‘make it’ in Michigan.” 

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.  

“Built ‘the right way’ in the 1910s and 1920s, the Jos. Campau corridor is a place that’s too good to fake, and probably too costly to ever build again,” said Milo Madole, board chair for the Hamtramck Downtown Development Authority (DDA). “It’s 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’s 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. The 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’s downtown.”  

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. 

“The MEDC is pleased to support communities across Michigan and invest in their resilience as part of our ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic strategy’s placemaking efforts, developing downtowns and commercial districts to grow vibrant, unique places,” said MEDC SVP of Community Planning and Development Readiness Michele Wildman. “Programs 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.” 

“We are honored to be designated a Michigan Main Street Select community,” said Isabel Allaway, Community & Economic Development manager/DDA director. “Through 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—building 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’ve already planted grow. We are grateful for the confidence placed in our ‘world in two square miles’ as we move forward together.” 

Over the past year, MMS communities generated more than $9.1 million in private investment, 93 new businesses and 83 façade 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. 

To learn more about the Michigan Main Street program, visit here. To learn more about MEDC’s community development programs, visit here. 

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.