Michigan is represented in a nationwide program looking at ways to improve downtown areas and boosting local economies.
There are ten semi-finalists in the National Main Street Center’s - Great American Main Street competition, one of which is Boyne City in Charlevoix County.
Boyne City was a semi-finalist in 2011, but the city hasn’t applied for the award since then. While there are no other Michigan cities in the running this year, Howell, Michigan won last year’s competition.
Kelsie King-Duff is Executive Director of Boyne City Main Street.
“The whole Main street model really just gave us the framework to bring what our community’s vision was to life. So there’s all these ideas from events to just the general feel and the sense of place.”
King-Duff said the program aims to distinguish communities by their ‘sense of place’, which can bolster economic growth.
King-Duff said the winner of the Main Street competition will be announced at the Main Street Now Conference in March.