The northern Michigan city of Boyne City may be the next winner of Great American Main Street.
Boyne City has been named a semi-finalist in the National competition, announced by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
“As a result of hard work and an extreme belief in downtown, the city of Boyne City fits the definition of a Great American Main Street,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “Boyne City has worked diligently to enhance the sense of place and improve the character of its downtown, and is well-deserving of this recognition.”
MEDC says that since its inception in 2003, the program has aimed to create communities distinguished by a “sense of place.”
And Boyne City's Main Street program has been an active part of the Michigan Main Street at MEDC for 15 years.
During that time the community has completed 37 façade rehabilitations for an investment of nearly $28 million, logged more than 49,175 volunteer hours and brought in 85 net new businesses to the downtown, according to MEDC.
The Boyne City Main Street program has also been a catalyst for economic development in downtown Boyne City.
“Boyne City Main Street is honored to be named a semifinalist for the Great American Main Street Award,” said Boyne City Main Street Executive Director Kelsie King-Duff. “Being named to the top 10 not only honors and validates everything our community, and most importantly our volunteers have worked towards over the last 15 years, but sets the stage for the goals yet to be reached.”
The 2019 Great American Main Street winners will be announced in March at the 2019 Main Street Now Conference in Seattle, Wash. To learn more, visit here: https://www.mainstreet.org/blogs/national-main-street-center/2018/08/22/your-2019-great-american-main-street-award-semifin.
