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News From Main Street DDA
April-June, 2015
www.downtownGH.com
A Message from
Executive Director—
Diane Larkin
Good things are happening on Main
Street!
Announced this month—
Grand Haven Main Street DDA has
again been recognized as a 2015 Accredited Main Street Program for
meeting the 10 Standards of Performance in 2014 by the National Main
Street Center and Michigan Main
Street. With more than 100 volunteers investing 3,175 volunteer hours
and more than $3,000,000 in private
investment in the past 18 months, we
are witnessing growth and renewed
vibrancy throughout our district.
As Spring arrives, we want to welcome
several new businesses to the district:
Vintage Green
7 North Seventh—Opening April 24
Grand Haven Brew House
100 Washington—
Grand Opening / Rebranding —May 1
The Bookman
715 Washington
New Owners—Ribbon cutting—May 1
Kilwins
101 Washington—Opening mid-May
On behalf of the MSDDA Board—we
look forward to working with you to
create a spectacular Spring!
- - Diane
Upcoming Events
Michigan Main Street Associate Training-April 21st
On Tuesday, April 21, Grand Haven plays host to visitors from across the state
as they participate in a Michigan Main Street Associate Training. Please be on
the watch for, and ready to welcome, out-of-town visitors coming to explore
the businesses and places that make a downtown vibrant.
Spring into Spring– April 24th and 25th
Held on the same weekend as the Katty Shack 5K Race, this year’s “Girlfriends’
Weekend” is now “Spring into Spring” and kicks off with a fashion show on
April 24 (6 pm—Friday night). The fashion show is open to any merchants
selling wearable goods to participate, but you must register before April 12.
Contact Sholeh at Down to Earth to participate: 616-846-7781.
Saturday, April 25, features shopping specials throughout Downtown and
Centertown. If you are offering something special (trunk show, spring deals,
winter clearance), please call the MSDDA office to be included in our social
media campaign and marketing materials.
10 years of Main Street– May 18th
Grand Haven MSDDA Board members—past and present—will be presenting
“10 Years of Main Street” to City Council on May 18. All are invited to join us
at 7 pm as we celebrate being in Michigan’s Main Street Program for 10 years.
INSIDE OUT—A Detroit Institute of Arts Exhibit in GH!
Coming in time for Memorial Day—read on for more details!
Main Street Buzz
Join us for the next two upcoming Main Street Buzz networking meetings.
This is an opportunity to network with other businesses in the district, find out
about events and learn about opportunities to get involved with the MSDDA.
April 24—8 am at MAC Kite: Counterfeit Money & Shoplifting Prevention
May 29—8 am at The Shops at Chinook Pier: Art, Sand, Coast Guard—
Summer Festivals & Events—Use Them to Help and not Hinder Business!
Main Street DDA “Walk In” Office Hours:
Tuesday – Friday
10:00 AM – NOON
20 N. Fifth Street, Grand Haven MI 49416
(616) 844-1188
Coast Guard Banners
This year is a big celebration for the Coast Guard as America celebrates the
225th anniversary of the United States Coast Guard. With this distinction, the
CG Festival Board expects to see an increase of 30% in attendance to this
year’s Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven. We want to get the word out so
you can plan inventory /staffing needs for this anticipated increase in visitors.
Sponsor a Banner
We are again offering the opportunity to sponsor a downtown / Centertown
banner with your business (organization) name for $250. This year’s banners
will celebrate the USCG’s 225th Anniversary and feature the festival’s logo alternating with banners featuring a Coast Guard photo. Displayed from Memorial Day through Labor Day—we’ll deliver your banner to you this fall as a
special keepsake and for displaying as you choose.
Order Online
Watch your inbox for a brochure with instructions for ordering a banner. Order early to ensure your business banner is displayed in our district. New this
year—we are offering an online order & payment form on our website at:
Banner examples
www.downtownGH.com
Business Directory Guide
We hope you’ve heard—the MSDDA is working on a business directory (print piece and online directory). We want to
make sure that every business is listed—and we have sent the draft directory to everyone we have an email address for.
Not on our email list? Call the office (844-1188) and we’ll drop a draft off to you for your review. Deadline: 4/20/15
COMING SOON! Detroit Institute of Arts Inside Out Exhibit
Now in its 6th year, the Detroit Institute of Art’s (DIA) exhibit was inspired by an outdoor exhibition in London in 2007 and
features replications of art from the DIA’s collection placed outside un a selected community to serve as a catalyst for
public dialogue and shared cultural experiences. This program is possible by funding from The Knight Foundation.
For the first time, the DIA is looking to roll out this exhibit in 2 other communities across the state; and we are selected as
one of their top two choices! The MSDDA’s Preservation & Place Committee—in conjunction with Chris Protas and the
ArtWalk Committee—have been working to bring public art to the streets of Grand Haven and this is a perfect fit! The
exhibit will be installed in May and run through Labor Day—or (hopefully) through ArtWalk. (We’re working on this time
extension). Locations are being sought for the exterior art installation so be ready if you are asked!
Adopt-A-Planter
The City of GH’s Dept. of Public Works (DPW) and MSDDA work together to
plant and maintain wonderful flower planters in the downtown district. With a
generous grant (again this year) from the William H & Dorothy Young Mixer
Fund at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, our flower planters
will be bursting with beauty—and this riotous color is expanding into the new
raised planters in Centertown!
Our planters are all adopted this year, so
please take time to read the nameplates (in the beds) to see our local businesses and families that are volunteering to bring beauty to our district.
Development & Investment
by guest contributor, David Miller
Considering buying the building you currently lease? There is a great tool for you that makes it less expensive to
buy real estate. It is called the SBA 504 loan program and several businesses in Downtown Grand Haven have used
it. The benefits are that you can purchase the building with as little as 10% down, where most commercial loans
require at least 20% down. This allows you to use your money for things like buying inventory, making payroll,
marketing your business, or whatever else you think is important.
The other major benefit is that the interest rate is below market, and fixed for 20 years. The rates right now are
very attractive, and who knows what the future will bring when interest rates are concerned. Some of the businesses downtown that have utilized this loan program are; Santo Stefano del Lago, CCS Technologies and most recently
Fortino’s.
To be eligible, you must be a small, for-profit business that will occupy at least 51% of the building that you are
purchasing. For more information on how you might be able to buy your building, contact David Miller at the
Chamber of Commerce at 616-846-3153 OR dmiller@grandhavenchamber.org
Thank you for your investment in Grand Haven—the GHMSDDA Business Recruitment & Retention Committee
Looks Do Matter!
by guest contributor, Randy Smith
What makes downtown Grand Haven special? The
Restaurants/ bars—an extra, late night or early morning,
appearance of downtown is what creates a real
effort should be made to clean up cigarette butts and
sense of place and sets it apart from others. First
trash left on public sidewalks and parking lots.
impressions... what you see is what you get. The importance of cleanliness, the upkeep of property,
smart lighting, good window displays, unique elements and integrating beauty are all elements vital
to the downtown and the heart of our entire community.
On behalf of the Preservation & Place Committee of
the MSDDA, we would like to encourage business
and property owners to make an extra effort to help
improve the already-excellent image of Grand Haven. This effort could range from washing your windows and sweeping to painting or restoring your
building. Every little thing counts to maintain and
improve downtown appearance. For example, the
raised planters were replaced last year with cheery,
bright flowers and look what a difference it made in
the look of our downtown.
Sidewalk cafes add to the ambiance of downtown
but require extra maintenance and cleaning to stay
attractive. Be sure to clean up spilled drinks and
dropped food as quickly as possible.
Sandwich board signs promote a business, but must be
maintained to reflect positively on the business. They
are required to be within two feet of the front entrance
of the business, and may not block pedestrian traffic.
Flower boxes/ pots should have flowers in them to discourage using them as trash receptors or ashtrays.
If you are considering improvements or altering your
property/storefront, Grand Haven MSDDA has Design
Guidelines available to help maintain or restore building
character through your rehabilitation. This guide has
recommendations to help create and maintain historic
qualities found in downtown GH.
The design guidelines are available online at the City of
Grand Haven’s website:
http://www.grandhaven.org/departments/planningcommunity-development
If you would like additional information or have any
questions, please contact Diane in the MSDDA office.
Thank you for your positive efforts—the GHMSDDA
Preservation & Place Committee
Main Street DDA
Board of Directors
Grand Haven Art Festival back for its 54th year!
George Gardner, Chairman
DeBoer, Baumann & Company PLC
ggardner@dbccpa.com
An Update from Courtney Geurink:
Sharon Behm, Vice Chairman
Borr’s Shoes
hsbehm@sbcglobal.net
Cyndi Casemier, Secretary
C2C Gallery
c2cgallery@gmail.com
David TenCate, Treasurer
Capstone Companies
dtc@capstonerealestate.com
Dale Kwekel, Past Chairman
Grand Haven Garden House
dale@GHgardenhouse.com
Geri McCaleb
Mayor
gmmccaleb@grandhaven.org
Rheba Bolt
The Paper Place
rheba@tds.net
Dan Borchers
Frame & Mat Shop
framemat@sbcglobal.net
Carrie Anne Engels
What A Gem!
whatagemjewelry@gmail.com
David Garland
First Merit Bank
david.garland@firstmerit.com
Steven Radtke
Tri-Cities Historical Museum
sradtke@tri-citiesmuseum.org
John Steinbach
Anchor Realty
mrjohn56@hotmail.com
Staff
Diane Larkin, Executive Director
DLarkin@GrandHaven.org
Taylor Schriber
Marketing & Promotions Intern
TSchriber@GrandHaven.org
The 2015 Grand Haven Art Festival, presented by The Chamber of Commerce
Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg, will take place Saturday and Sunday,
June 27 & 28 along the first three blocks of Washington Avenue. 100 artists
from around the country have been invited. Last year, we estimated that over
15,000 people visited during this event.
On behalf of the Chamber, I want to
thank you, the merchants, for your support of this event and provide you with
information regarding the set-up. This year, after conversations with Public
Safety, the DDA and City staff, it was determined that Washington will be
closed starting on Friday, June 26 at 11 pm. Signage posted along Washington will be brightly colored to help draw attention and I will also be bringing a flyer to your storefront that week as a reminder.
Artists’ set-up begins at 12am midnight on Saturday, June 27. Washington
will remain closed through Sunday evening. Second Street between Columbus and Franklin will be closed Friday, June 26 at 11pm through Saturday, June 27 at 5pm.
If you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me
at cgeurink@grandhavenchamber.org or 616.842.4910.
Speaking of Art...registration opens April 15 to participate as
a Venue for ArtWalk 2015! Go to our website:
http://ghartwalk.com/venue-registration/
Monthly Committee Meetings
All MSDDA meetings are open to the
public and we welcome visitors and
your participation. Not sure where to
start? Come visit one or more of our
"working committees" and see what
fits your volunteer interests.
Business Recruitment & Retention
Meets 3rd Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Chamber of Commerce—lower level
Conference Room
Chair: John Groothuis
Organization Committee
Meets 1st Thursday at 8:00 a.m.
CMO Conference Room, City Hall
Chair: Warren Feyt
Preservation & Place Committee
Meets 4th Monday at 8:30 a.m.
Tri Cities Museum, 200 Washington
Chair: Steven Radtke
Promotions Committee
Meets 3rd Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.
Chamber of Commerce—lower level
Conference Room
Chair: Andy Cawthon
Principal Shopping District
Advisory Committee
Meets 1st Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
October – May
CMO Conference Room, City Hall
Chair: Greg Slater