Ortonville- Robert Renchik will lead the Downtown Development Authority in the new year, beginning by bringing information about the organization to the village council at their next meeting, set for 7 p.m., Jan. 26, at the township offices, 395 Mill St.
Village Council President Wayne Wills said at the December meeting he would like a review of what the DDA does for the village. Renchik aims to answer questions Jan. 26, and follow-up with a presentation to the board in February as well.
‘I am going to give them a breakdown of things we’ve done,? said the DDA president, who took over the position recently after Paul Amori stepped down. ‘The DDA is chartered through the state to help with economic development and make things happen in the downtown area.?
The DDA was formed in the village in the 1970s, said Renchik, adding that he joined in 2002. The original DDA board was behind a streetscape project that put in pavers and lights in the village.
These days, while the DDA is the controlling entity, the driving force behind projects and events in the village is the Main Street program. In 2004, the village became one of several Oakland County communities that participate in the program that has a focus on historic preservation.
As a Main Street community, Ortonville is eligible to receive assistance from experts such as architects, planners, retailers, former downtown managers, county staff, national trust staff and more. Main Street has a four-point approach based on four key areas: organization? building consensus and cooperation, which the DDA leads; promotion? marketing the downtown’s assets to local citizens, new businesses, customers and new private investors; design’improving the physical appearance of the downtown by rehabilitating historic buildings and encouraging new compatible construction and long-term design management; and economic restructuring? strengthening the downtown’s existing economic base and finding ways to expand it with new opportunities. DDA. In 2014, around $80,000 was collected, about half of which is used to pay the salary of DDA Executive Director and Main Street Manager Molly LaLone. In order to receive Main Street reaccreditation each year, the village is required to have a full-time Main Street manager orchestrating events including CreekFest, Beets, Beats & Eats, and Christmas in the Village.
Remaining funds are to be used for village improvements. Renchik said last year, $20,000 was used to refurbish the Old Mill Museum, including new exterior paint. More funds were used for flowers and other plants to beautify the village.
In 2015, the DDA Board is eyeing the Old Town Hall.
‘Last year, we looked at redoing the town hall, but those funds went to the Old Mill, which needed work first,? he said. ‘This year, we’re looking at possibly doing the town hall. We want to bring the facade back to the original state when it was first built.?

Tax-increment financing supports the