Hamtramck reinstates downtown development authority to gain more access to grants

After almost four years without a downtown development authority, and many lost grant opportunities later, Hamtramck’s DDA was reinstated on Dec. 13.

“Across the state DDAs have been proved successful in granting,” says Rebecca Savage, chairman of the board for Hamtramck’s DDA.

DDAs are funded by tax dollars from property owners in the district. “They (DDAs) are responsible for most of a city’s major projects,” says Savage, by putting tax dollars to good use for their community. For Hamtramck, and most other cities, the DDA’s role is to improve economic development and business within the district.

This is significant for Hamtramck because many federal grants require a DDA, so more funding will be available to the city, she says.

The Hamtramck DDA has already requested funding for streetscape improvements from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan. The money would help get the city’s façade improvement grant program up and running.

Source: Rebecca Savage, chairman of the board for Hamtramck’s DDA