Uncategorized

Join us for 3 days of fun-filled Yuletide celebration!

Thursday, December 9 is Reindeer Night! Take your picture with real live Reindeer, visit Santa, and ride the Holly Trolly to local businesses offering crafts, activities, and goodies for children, free of charge. Festivities run from 6-9pm, and you will also have an opportunity to give back to our local school district through Classmates Care!

Friday, December 10 is the Night of Lights! Explore the Charlie Brown Tree wonderland with lights and painted trees, “Elfie” booths, and other photo booth pop ups created by the Middleville Art Committee, explore the Candlelight Luminary Memorial Walk benefiting the new Hospice House project, and participate in the final night of voting for the Village Light Decoration Contest. Drive through maps and candy canes will be given away in front of the Village Greenspace.

Saturday, December 11, Santa will be back for a Christmas Tea under the pavilion, and then you can see him ride his sleigh in the Christmas Parade down Main Street at 6pm. Plus, explore the Holiday Market, where you can find unique, artisan crafted gifts and more.

Stay tuned for more details @MiddlevilleDDA Facebook page for details!

Join us for a special meeting of the DDA on October 19 at 5pm at Village Hall where the DDA Board and Director will report on what has been accomplishments in the Downtown District and give your feedback as they plan for 2022.

Then, join us Monday, December 6, at 6pm at Village Hall for our “Year in Review” report, discuss the finalized plans for 2022, and launch our new Community Partner Program!

These meetings are open to public and all are welcome to attend.

Twenty years ago, the Village Council voted to create a DDA, or Downtown Development Authority. According to the State of Michigan, a DDA is a special governmental entity that a local government can create to “halt property value deterioration and increase property valuation in its business district…and promote economic growth.”

The DDA is funded by a small part of the tax revenue from properties within the downtown district, which are then reinvested back into the district through public improvements that help grow property values and other economic development.

In Middleville, the the DDA takes a three pronged approach and focuses on historic preservation and revitalization, economic growth and development, and community engagement.

When you look back at the last twenty years, hopefully you can see how downtown Middleville has changed and grown. Many of the infrastructure details that create the “small-town” charm Middleville is know for started out as DDA projects. The new restrooms, amphitheater, pavilion, and many other structures downtown were built through the DDA. Our beautiful, historic buildings on Main Street, and even many of buildings on M-37, have also benefited from DDA matching grants that were used to restore and repair the exterior of buildings. These grant funds are also available to residential homeowners located within the downtown district. The DDA also assists businesses with new signs and works to support and retain a thriving business community.

Events like the Middleville Market are also managed by the DDA, to support local makers, artists, and farmers in growing their business while providing village residents with top quality products.

These are just a few of the ways that the DDA contributes to the economic growth of the community.

Projects like the Train Depot Restoration, or working with property owners to renovate, rather than demolish existing buildings are vibrant examples of the historic preservation work that the DDA performs. However, community engagement is perhaps what our DDA is best known for. The “Schedule of Community Events” on the right showcases of the ways that the DDA works to build a sense of place and a sense of belonging for all members of our community. These events bring people together, preserve the heritage of the village, and help neighbors to forge strong friendships with one another, but they also help bring new patrons to our downtown businesses.

Historic preservation and revitalization, economic growth and development, and community engagement overlap and intersect in many ways, but they have a united goal: As we work to reinvest in this amazing community, we build a bright future rooted in the rich heritage of the past.