Grosse Ile residents push to restore Island Nights as DDA outlines $1,000 event grants

At a Downtown Development Authority meeting, residents and business owners urged the DDA to reinstate Island Nights on Macomb Street and to boost visible staff support for community events. DDA staff described a reimbursable business improvement grant that can cover up to $1,000 in event costs.

The petition author, Pauline Muscat, a Coleman Street resident, asked the DDA and township to "resume facilitation of Island Nights," saying the event provided time and venue for residents to interact with small businesses and for nonprofits to raise donation and awareness. "Island Nights is beneficial all around to our islanders," Muscat said.

Elizabeth Renaud, who identified herself as a Grosse Ile resident and owner of two island businesses, described the cancellations as disappointing and urged the DDA to provide more consistent leadership and presence at events. "If the DDA simply doesn't have the capacity to plan or support events like Island Nights, then maybe we can create an event subcommittee made up of residents, business owners, and volunteers," Renaud said, offering her marketing and design help.

Resident Margaret Shelton said she attended all Island Nights last year and described them as family‑oriented. Shelton pointed to the newly approved social district on Macomb Street as an opportunity to introduce residents to the concept by pairing it with Island Nights events.

DDA presenters Chad Novak and Wendy Kearney outlined a proposed fourth‑Friday schedule for Island Nights and showed draft flyers for July and August. Novak described the DDA's business improvement grant program as a reimbursable grant "up to a thousand dollars," usable for event marketing, performer fees, small supplies, or even documented staff time for volunteers organizing an event. "It's reimbursable — you submit invoices and once the board approves, we cut a check back for that," Novak said.

Board members and staff acknowledged limited DDA staff bandwidth; the DDA's principal planner noted Ross (DDA staff) is available only half the week because some of his time is allocated to community development. Board members encouraged volunteers to organize locally and proposed forming an event subcommittee to coordinate with the DDA and walk Macomb Street to recruit business participation.

Several business owners in the room volunteered to canvass shops and provide commitment for participation. Presenters agreed to post event flyers and social media notices as soon as possible and to accept grant applications online; applicants may submit separate applications for each date if costs exceed the $1,000 cap.

The discussion closed with the DDA agreeing to add action items to the agenda to follow up and to consider interviews or approvals at an upcoming meeting before July events.