Environment

Downtowns give thumbs up to Main Street program

By |

By CARL STODDARD
Capital News Service
LANSING — Grayling is a member. So are Three Rivers, Blissfield and downtown Lansing. In all, nearly two dozen communities in Michigan are members of the Michigan Main Street initiative. The goal of the program, coordinated by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC), is to help Michigan cities breathe new life into their downtowns and central business districts.

Arts & Entertainment

State groups dispute how downtowns spend special millages

By |

By BRIDGET BUSH
LANSING– A dispute between the state groups representing counties and downtowns has erupted over the way tax money is spent. Michigan Association of County officials say some special millage tax dollars that could be spent on senior citizens, veterans and other causes get diverted into a popular tax strategy for helping downtowns. A five-bill package was recently introduced in the House of Representatives to improve the oversight and transparency of groups capturing this tax revenue. Cosponsors are Reps. Lee Chatfield, R-Levering; Lana Theis,R- Brighton; Amanda Price; R-Park Township; Pat Somerville R-New Boston; and David Mature, R- Vicksburg.