Ortonville – Thanks to the commitment of the entire community, Oakland County officials named Ortonville one of two ? Main Street? designations for 2004.
On Sept. 22, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson awarded the Main Street community designation to Village Manager Paul Zelenak, Downtown Development President Robert Renchik, DDA members Mary Kassuba and David Bonner, business owner.
‘Now we’re a Main Street community and it was marvelous to be given this award,? said Renchik.
Of the seven Oakland County Main Street communities, according to Patterson, Ortonville is the smallest community to be awarded the designation.
The Village of Oxford is the second recipient of three applicants. Keego Harbor’s Main Street application was not accepted.
‘This is huge for the Village of Ortonville,? Village Manager Paul Zelenak beamed.
‘This is tens of thousands of dollars worth of technical assistance that the village, DDA, councils, groups, and businesses will be receiving through this program.?
Zelenak explained the Downtown Development Authority will be pivotal in involving downtown community members to take advantage of Main Street opportunities by attending program classes and seminars on everything from community improvement projects and techniques to researching funding source possibilities and economic enhancement connections.
A designation to the Main Street program has given communities the unique opportunity through local and national assistance to restore economic health to downtown.
The program targets technical, creative, enhanced design, and economic restructuring assistance by experts who are skilled at bringing downtowns areas back to life with an emphasis on promotion and historic preservation.
‘We will not only be receiving assistance from the county but nationally as well,? Zelenak said.
‘This community will strive toward a common goal with proven tactics that have worked in thousands of communities across the United States.?.
‘Most people won’t realize right away what this will do for the community but this is huge,? Zelenak said.
Main Street of Oakland County is in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has been successful in revitalizing more than 1,600 downtown areas within 40 states, since 1980.
Introduce to Ortonville, by Zelenak in April 2001, stewardship for the extensive Main Street application process was accepted and executed by the DDA.
‘It’s important to emphasize that this project is a vision for the future,? Renchik said.
‘A grass roots’citizen driven effort by the community so that this thing actually works,? Renchik said.
‘This is tremendous for the community.?
‘Main Street is, a home town for everybody including the surrounding areas of Groveland and Brandon Township.? Renchik said.
Zelenak says community hosted events such as Septemberfest, the Street Machine Car Show, Creekfest, Movie Night, and Christmas in the Village will continue the spirit of volunteer work that will make the Main Street program work in Ortonville.
‘This is volunteer driven, all about this community and about embracing our downtown to make it the best it can be,? said Zelenak.
‘That is what is going to make it work,? he said.
For further information on becoming involved in the Main Street process call the village office at (248)627-4976 or Robert Renchik at (248)627-7515.