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Main Street Oakland County (MSOC)
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Who we are... Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) is an economic development program specifically targeted to provide technical assistance to the 30 traditional downtowns in the County.
These historic commercial districts each have a unique sense of place which, as a part of a national trend, are becoming increasingly popular as places to do business, shop, dine, live and experience family activities.
MSOC is now a partner with the National Trust's Main Street Center, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Founded in 1980, the National Trust's Main Street Center's Four Point Approach of: Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Restructuring, has been successfully utilized in over 2,000 downtowns in 40 states since 1980.
Our Mission is.. "To maximize the economic potential and to preserve the heritage and sense of place of Oakland County's historic commercial districts by encouraging and facilitating the use of the Main Street Four-Point Approach which emphasizes economic development within the context of historic preservation."
How we originated... Under the leadership of County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, and with the unanimous support of the County Board of Commissioners, Oakland County established the first County-level Main Street program in the U.S. in February 2000.
MSOC is housed within the Planning Group of the Planning & Economic Development Services Division of Oakland County's Department of Community & Economic Development. Oakland County is now a partner with the National Trust's Main Street Center and contracts with them for services to the County and local communities.
What we do...
Empower Oakland County's traditional downtowns to establish and/or maintain successful, comprehensive, ongoing revitalization programs Build a greater awareness of the economic and quality of life importance of revitalizing and maintaining the County's historic commercial districts Provide the stakeholders of Oakland County's traditional downtowns with technical assistance and training resources Provide information about downtown revitalization to the County's communities, business organizations, and residents Assist communities in implementing the "Main Street Four Point Approach" to downtown management in each of the County's traditional downtowns and corridors Facilitate networking and communication between communities about downtown revitalization Provide information about County business finance programs and other economic development resources to existing downtown businesses and to those considering downtown locations Monitor and measure progress and success in local downtown revitalization efforts Assist each of the 30 traditional downtowns and town centers in the County to help them realize their full economic development potential while preserving their sense of place.
How to contact us...
Main Street Oakland County Staff
Our Partners and Sponsors...
Upcoming Workshops and Conferences...
11th Annual Heritage Conference by Oakland County's Planning & Economic Development: Our Legacy...It's in Our Hands (Thursday, September 25, 2008) -
Michigan Downtown Conference (September 8-10, 2008) in Bay City, Michigan: Downtowns who are successful at reinventing themselves leverage multiple and diverse financial resources, engage local entrepreneurs, aggressively facilitate green and mixed use development, relentlessly promote themselves to new markets and new generations, encourage appropriate design and encourage a thriving arts and culture community. These seven principles make up The 2008 Michigan Downtown Conference's theme, "The Seven Habits of Effective Downtowns."
Previously offered workshops:
UpStairs Downtown (April 30, 2008)
and Financing (May 29, 2008) and Code (June 18, 2008)
Upcoming Events...
Main Event (November 14, 2008) at Glen Oaks Clubhouse
Main Street Oakland County Awards - 2008...
Call for nominations from Main Street Oakland County Communities (Due by September 16, 2008):
Award Categories for: Organization, Promotion, Design, Economic Restructuring, and Special Awards
Links of interest...
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