Welcome back to the monthly DDA newsletter! This month we will go over the history and current status of the Ames Street Project. Lots of folks have asked for an update, and we are happy to share what has been done and next steps for this project!

AMES STREET CORRIDOR PROJECT RECAP

The Village of Elk Rapids has been working on a plan to improve the Ames Street Commercial Corridor for several years now. The major goals for this project were to develop a master plan for Ames Street improvements, create a project to improve the street in different phases, and to involve the community in an overarching process to gain insight on how to approach this plan.

In 2019, engineering firm C2AE was granted the bid to design the project. C2AE recommended the plan in three phases: phase 1 focused on the commercial district from US-31 to Henry Street; phase 2 addressed the residential district of Ames from Henry Street to Wilder Road; and phase 3 would improve the industrial corridor along Loomis Industrial Drive from Lake Street to US-31.

On February 16, 2021, the Elk Rapids Village Council approved the plan as presented by C2AE. At the time, the cost was estimated at $1.5 million dollars for all three phases of the plan. The next steps for this plan are finding funding for the project, integrating it into the Parks & Recreation Five-Year Community Recreation Plan, and breaking ground!

DDA stakeholders will be among the first notified when the Village is able to move forward with this project. To view C2AE’s full proposal, please view the attachment to this newsletter.

ACTION UPDATES

• Welcome to the DDA Board of Directors, Susan Sweet! Susan has an MBA and 18 years of experience in economic policy as a staff member in the US House & Senate. She is currently a licensed real estate agent with an active practice in the area.
• DDA Board Members Petersen and Rentsch are working on updating the 2016 Strategic Plan. Input from the listening sessions will be included in the future plan.
• The DDA approved Paddle Antrim’s funding request of $20,000 over two fiscal years to improve infrastructure in the US-31 Corridor DDA district.

ELK RAPIDS DDA FEATURED IN MICHIGAN PLANNER MAGAZINE

Check out the attached article that features the Elk Rapids DDA and explains the listening plan that was conducted. It is thanks to stakeholders like YOU that we are able to create a vision for economic development in our community!

ELK RAPIDS DDA UPCOMING DATES

Please join us for the Regular DDA Meeting Wednesday November 9, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at the Elk Rapids Government Center, 315 Bridge Street. We hope to see and collaborate with you there!