Coldwater DDA adopts Match on Main criteria and approves business-recruitment technical assistance for 2026

At the Jan. 21 meeting the Coldwater Downtown Development Authority reviewed local selection criteria for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Match on Main $25,000 grant and approved Michigan Main Street technical assistance focused on business recruitment for 2026.

Kristen summarized the Match on Main program and the local committee's recommended scoring criteria: alignment with downtown transformation strategy or the TIF plan; whether the business would serve as an anchor or advance arts and family-friendly offerings; and whether the project would diversify the downtown business mix. Kristen explained the MEDC opens the grant (tentatively early March), the DDA may forward a limited number of applications to the MEDC, and the local committee will apply the locally chosen criteria when scoring applicants.

Board members clarified eligibility: the business owner is typically the applicant; property-owner consent may be required for building work. Kristen said local committee membership includes DDA members and public participants (named volunteers included Courtney, Dean Walrack, Kristen and Laura).

On Michigan Main Street technical assistance, Kristen recommended business recruitment services for 2026 (assembling community materials, mock pitch practice and outreach). After brief discussion about time commitment, a motion to adopt business recruitment as the 2026 technical assistance passed by voice vote with no opposed recorded.

What happens next: staff will accept interested business applicants onto the Match on Main list and the local committee will finalize scoring criteria and timing in advance of the MEDC application window.