Niles DDA Main Street Revenue

About Niles DDA Main Street

The purpose of Niles DDA Main Street is to enhance our community identity and heritage, foster a center of activity and ensure economic stability for the heart of downtown Niles through broad based community support. Our mission is accomplished by working with more than 400 volunteers each year who contribute in excess of 4000 volunteer hours. The results are impressive. Since joining the Michigan Main Street community in 2004, 25 net new jobs have been created and private investment has topped $8 million dollars. In 2007, our Niles DDA Main Street Program was chosen the Michigan Main Street program of the year. Our program was the first Michigan Main Street program to receive accreditation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Center, a designation we have achieved each year of eligibility. In 2008, we were awarded the Michigan Main Street Design Project of the year for work resulting in our downtown district becoming listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, we were awarded the Michigan Main Street Promotion Project of the year for our hugely successful Hunter Ice Festival. The festival tells the story of the Hunter Brothers- two enterprising entrepreneurs that made their fortune harvesting ice at the turn of the century from Barron Lake. In the 1980's when the last heir died, a local community foundation was created by their estate. You'll find world class ice carvers, a heated tasting tent featuring wines from local vineyards as well as a fund chili cookoff and more! Over 25 tons of ice are carved for and during the weekend. This festival takes place every January on the weekend before Martin Luther King's birthday. Not only do more than 7000 visitors come to town, they spend in excess of $100,000 over the three days of the festival. With as far as we've come, we feel we've only just begun and are excited about what the future has in store for Niles.

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