Ames Street Corridor

In the Village of Elk Rapids, the sidewalk doesn’t end along the Ames Street Corridor. As one of the village’s primary commercial corridors, home to over 20 local businesses, it recently received a walkable refresh thanks to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and its Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program.

Initiated in 2023 as a multi-phase project for economic development, the Ames Street Improvements Plan supported the Village of Elk Rapids’ goal of creating a more walkable community through updating the corridor’s appearance and improving pedestrian access for residents and visitors alike.

With input from the community, the plan included streetscaping and placemaking improvements such as new sidewalks, bike lanes, benches, enhanced lighting, crosswalks and natural landscaping, including dozens of new trees. 

The corridor lost sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, which also delayed project implementation. With $865,000 in RAP funding from the MEDC, $300,000 from the Elk Rapids Downtown Development Authority and $565,600 from the Village of Elk Rapids, the Ames Street Corridor project is approaching completion in August 2026, an accomplishment more than a decade in the making.

“They've tried to launch this project three times over 15 years; this is the fourth design for it,” said Thomas Stephenson, president of the Elk Rapids Village Council. “Back in 2017 I was part of a leadership group, and we identified five community-friendly projects we should do to attract young professionals and improve the area for residents. I said, ‘We’ve got Ames Street. It’s shovel ready.’ Then I became president for the Village Council, and when some of our grant funding fell through for the project, I worked with Hannah Yurk at the MEDC to apply for RAP 2.0 funding.”

Stephenson says the improvements to the Ames Street Corridor are complementary to the active Elk Rapids community and the annual influx of tourists.

“A lot of tourists come up during the summertime and our ‘snowbirds’ are back in town. We’re in a blue zone with a lot of health-conscious people, so when they get a chance to walk, they walk. For the local businesses, this corridor project opened opportunities up for them. If someone gets in their car, they’ll go to Traverse City, but if they’re walking, they can go to the nearby grocery store. This has opened up a new way for getting around.”

Small Businesses, Huge Impact

Within one month of completion of the new sidewalk along the Ames Street Corridor, businesses along the corridor reported increases in pedestrian traffic and sales during a period when activity would typically begin to slow, including Bos Wine on Ames Street. According to owners Jackie and David Bos, who also received a $25,000 Match on Main grant in 2025 for Bos Wine, business has grown thanks to the new sidewalks.

“The construction of sidewalks on Ames Street has opened up our side of town and enabled people to more freely get around,” they said. “Creating a connective pathway has become an asset to our businesses, and we are seeing our numbers increase as a result. It is especially cool to see visitors and locals strolling to several businesses on one outing, further establishing Elk Rapids as a place to come and hang out for the day.’

Nicholas and Geri Lefebre, founders of Ethanology Distillation, and Kevin Young of Village Markets are also seeing a boost in business with the upgrades to the Ames Street Corridor.

“The Ames Street sidewalk project has truly connected our community, encouraging pedestrian traffic, families and residents to visit the Ames Street Corridor,” the Lefebres said. “As a result, our business has seen double-digit percentage growth since its installation, and our neighborhood is increasingly walkable and healthy. More importantly, the corridor has been given new life for future generations to enjoy.”

“Completing the sidewalk project was a gamechanger for our east side community,” said Kevin Young, owner and general manager of Village Markets. “Village Markets have seen a measurable uptick in foot traffic, with more residents choosing to stroll to the store for daily needs rather than drive. We’re thrilled to see a nearly 5% sales boost directly tied to improved walkability. It’s clear that when our town invests in safe, convenient pedestrian access, local businesses and residents both win.”

Looking ahead, Stephenson says the next big project along the corridor is a new library for the community, which will be the anchor at the end of Ames Street in a former manufacturing building. The increased square footage for the library will allow for more capacity and programming, making Elk Rapids even more attractive for families.

MEDC Engagement

As a community, Elk Rapids is actively engaged with the MEDC in its placemaking and community development efforts. In 2025, Elk Rapids achieved the Engaged Level with the Michigan Main Street program and was recognized with Essentials status in the Redevelopment Ready Communities program.

Thanks to projects like the Ames Street Corridor and accessing community resources from the MEDC, Elk Rapids is poised to grow as a standout community in Michigan’s Northwest region.

Learn how the MEDC supports the vibrancy of communities like Elk Rapids.