Main Street Services & Trainings
Main Street is not just a label; it's a commitment to the Four Point Approach. Main Street Oakland County staff and partner organizations offer a wealth of services and trainings to benefit Main Street communities. There are also certain requirements, particularly for the Select Level communities.
Upcoming Workshops and Events
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Successful Grant Writing: When Opportunity Meets Preparation
Main Street Grants Catalog
Grant Resources and Support Workshop Presentation (Nov 2024)
Where Do I Start? Grant Tips for Small Businesses and Main Street Property Owners
November 12, 2024: Business Growth Using Google Tools and a Change in Mindset
RECORDING: https://youtu.be/a73kfefsYUI
October 1, 2024: Main Street Digital Marketing Series – Website Tracking for Business Growth
Recording: https://youtu.be/nHweVRmhzKk
September 24, 2024: Main Street Digital Marketing Series – Improve You Understanding of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
February 21-22, 2024: Main Street America “New Manager” Training
Day 1 : https://youtu.be/QNjxhm-Q6Bw
Day 2: https://youtu.be/hHo_k2MayDs
Instructor: Jackie Swihart, Program Officer for Revitalization Services, Main Street America
November 16, 2023: Make Your Website Work for You
Make Your Website Work for You POWERPOINT
Teresa Heger, Grow with Google Digital Coach
Downtown Wayland, Main Street America
October 26, 2023: Get Your Local Business on Search and Maps
Get Your Local Business on Search and Maps POWERPOINT
Teresa Heger, Grow with Google Digital Coach
Downtown Wayland, Main Street America
September 26, 2023: Use the Latest Digital Marketing to Grow Your Small Business
Five Simple Ways to Boost Your Brand Online POWERPOINT
Bobby Dimovski, Founder/CEO
4MJ Social, Troy
Grow Your Business Using Analytics, AI, and Findable POWERPOINT
Son Tran, Owner, and Brendan Hunt, Digital Marketing Manager
Pitch Black Media, Ferndale
June 30, 2023: Transformation Strategies Webinar
Webinar Recording
PowerPoint
Materials
Worksheet
March 7, 2023: Main Street / DDA Manager Refresh and New Manager Training
January 22, 2020: Main Street Oakland County – Effective Boards Aren't Built in a Day
Successful downtown development programs start at home—with a strong board that is proactive and engaged. As a board member, you must fully develop and utilize your leadership skills. The Board has a variety of critical functions, including:
- Setting policy
- Managing the budget and staff
- Raising funds
- Serving as advocate and ambassador for your downtown
- Listening and responding to your community’s needs
- Approving the direction and plan for downtown transformation
Without a strong board, local success in your downtown development may never come. Whether you represent a DDA or a non-profit, you will learn how to create and maintain an effective Board during this fast-paced workshop that takes a deep dive into developing a good board to lead your Main Street program to success.
Event Materials:
Effective Boards PowerPoint Presentation
Collaborative Job Description Worksheet
The Main Street Board Member's Handbook
Board Member Resource Guide
September 26, 2019: DDA Refresh: Best Practices to Keep your Community in Compliance and in the Know
Downtown Development Authority (DDA) laws, rules and regulations have been in flux over the past few years in Michigan. Changes to reporting, who can opt in and out, and other facts every DDA should know have come fast and furious. This workshop provides an overview on the best practices to keep your local DDA in compliance and in good standing with the State of Michigan, including:
- What's New
- Actions to Avoid
- DDA Boards and Training
- TIF Law - PA 57
- Updating Your TIF Plan and Downtown Development Plan
- Strengthening Your Partnership With Your City and Council
- Creating a Plan and Sticking to It
- Involving the Right Stakeholders
- What the Best Functioning DDAs Have in Common
Event Materials
- DDA Refresh: Best Practices to Keep Your Community in Compliance and in the Know Onsite Program
- Main Street Oakland County - Board Handbook Checklist
- Michigan Downtown Association - PA 57 Presentation
- Michigan Downtown Association - PA 57 Reporting Requirements and Timeline
- Main Street Oakland County - Stay on the UpSide of Downtown Management
- Main Street Oakland County - Act 57 of 2018 TIF and Development Plan Preparation and Contents Presentation
- Treasury Contact
June 19, 2019: Resolving Conflict on Main Street: The Art of Effective Communication
Tips and best practices to strengthen communication with staff, board members, local leaders and volunteers.
Learn how to improve your communication and reduce conflict – while producing better results for your community and strengthening your relationships with stakeholders.
Event Materials
- Sample Meeting Agenda - Deneau
- Lessons Learned In Meaningful Community Engagement Presentation - Twardy and Sokol
- Properly Manage Meetings - Deneau and Bertolini
- Difficult Questions and Bridging Statements Handout - Bertolini
- Focusing Your Internal Communications to Build Downton Advocates - Sheppard and Decius
- Guide Properly Manage Meetings and Different Personalities - Bertolini and Deneau
MSOC Benefits & Services
With its three-tiered program, Main Street Oakland County offers a variety of services to meet the needs of all Oakland County downtowns and commercial districts. Benefits and services are available based on level of eligibility.
Training
- Learn the National Main Street Four-Point Approach®.
- Enhance your capacity for comprehensive management of downtowns, heritage corridors and urban centers.
Technical Services
- Receive special project assistance and advice.
- Focus on preserving and repurposing historical buildings and economic development programs related to all aspects of comprehensive downtown, commercial district and corridor management.
Promotional Opportunities
- Increase visibility for your events and businesses.
Networking
- You will be a part of the Main Street Oakland County downtown family where you can learn and get support from communities facing similar challenges and achieving success.
Training
- Main Street Manager Orientation
- Main Street Four-point Approach® In-depth for Each Committee (Main Street 101 & 201)
- Topical Workshops Including Historic Preservation
- National Main Street Conference Scholarships
Technical Services
- Access to National Main Street Center Consultants and Services Through MSOC
- Needs Assessments and Resource Team Report by Experts at the National and County Level
- Technical Visits by Experts at the National and County Level
- An Annual Evaluation for Accreditation
- Quarterly Meetings With Manager Peers
- Priority Design and Historic Preservation Assistance
- Priority Assistance From Planning Services and Local Business Development
Promotion & Visibility
- National Accreditation Press Conference
- Annual Main Event Award Eligibility
- Formal Use of the National Main Street Logo
- Special Marketing, Advertising and Publicity Opportunities
- Ribbon Cuttings & Proclamations for Businesses
- Great American Main Street Award Eligibility
- MSOC Community Entry Signs
Just as the benefits vary by level of eligibility, the level of dedication required by communities varies – with the highest level required by communities participating in the Select Level.
For a full list of all the services MSOC can offer your community, and the requirements for participation in the program, download the Benefits & Requirements brochure.
Continuing education relating to the best practices for downtown and commercial district management, for staff, board members, volunteers and other interested stakeholders, is an important component of the successful management of these districts. Main Street Oakland County provides many opportunities for participating communities to access local, state-wide, and national training.
- MSOC Workshops in Partnership with Michigan Main Street (Quarterly)
- MSOC Advisory Board Projects and Workshops
- OC Historic Preservation Basics (Spring, Biannually)
- OC Historic Preservation Advanced HDC Training (Fall, Biannually)
- National Main Street Conference (Spring, Annually)
- National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference (Fall, Annually)
- Michigan Association of Planning Conference (Fall, Annually)
- Michigan Downtown Association Workshops (Spring and Summer, Annually)
- Michigan Downtown Association Conference (Fall, Annually)
Two grants are available to the Main Street Oakland County communities:
- Genisys Spirit of Main Street Micro Business Startup Grant
Main Street America and GoDaddy are teaming up to provide digital empowerment to business owners around the U.S.
Through Empower by GoDaddy, Main Street America wants to equip small businesses with training, tools, and peer networks in order to help them establish and grow an effective digital presence.
The no-cost digital commerce courses include training on:
- Creating Your Digital Brand
- Designing a Great Website
- Creating Content
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Email Marketing
- Creating an E-commerce Presence
- Mastering Social Media
- Building Sales and Customer Service Experiences
Through the Empower platform by GoDaddy, small business have access to business coaching and mentorships, blogs, discounts on e-commerce related products and other learning resources. Main Street Oakland County managers are encouraged to share this flyer with their small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs—it has instructions on how the businesses can participate in the GoDaddy Digital Empowerment Program.
Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) offers annual technical assistance and program support to designated Oakland County Main Street Communities to enhance downtown areas and historic neighborhood commercial corridors through consulting, financial support, and resources.
Placer.ai Applications—Market Intelligence for Main Street District Programs and Their Small Businesses
Part of the Main Street Oakland County’s (MSOC) Economic Vitality Services Portfolio includes access to Placer.ai market data. This information is provided free of charge for MSOC district programs.
PLACER.ai is a location analytics platform that provides you with detailed insights into foot traffic, consumer behavior, and physical location performance. It helps businesses, organizations, and city planners make data-driven decisions about retail locations, real estate, marketing strategies, and urban development.
Can be used for foot traffic analysis, economic development, event planning, and community engagement.
Click here for one-page, print-ready flyer
For more information or to request data, fill out the form below:
For Questions, contact Erick Phillips: phillipse@oakgov.com | (248) 858-4070
MSOC Testimonial Videos
Main Street Oakland County - Daniela Walters, Main Street Pontiac
Main Street Oakland County - Scott Reynolds, Volunteering
Main Street Oakland County - Rust Belt Market
Main Event 2019 - Spirit of Main Street Award
