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Coldwater DDA approves consent agenda and November bills; hears TIF and impact report updates
Summary
The Coldwater Downtown Development Authority approved its consent agenda and amended November bills by voice vote, reviewed an estimated $115,000 in TIF revenue for 2026-27, and received an impact report citing roughly $240,000 in private investment last year and $2.8 million since joining Main Street.
The Coldwater Downtown Development Authority opened its meeting on time and approved a four-item consent agenda and the November bills and accounts by voice vote, with no recorded opposition.
Kristen, the DDA director, presented a director's report that outlined a drafted marketing and branding policy for staff and volunteers, a committee applying for a Michigan State University Extension "First Impressions" tourism assessment grant (decision expected in early February), and fundraising outreach that included 210 solicitation letters. "The estimated 2026-27 TIF revenue is $115,000," Kristen said, explaining that TIF (tax increment financing) allows the authority to capture incremental property tax growth for downtown projects and does not change the city's millage rate.
The board also received the DDA's finalized impact report. A board member highlighted figures from the report, citing roughly $240,000 in private investment this past year and about $2,800,000 in private investment since the district joined the Main Street program. The report will be shared via the DDA's newsletter and social channels, and directors encouraged broad distribution to emphasize recent gains.
Committee updates included progress on a public mural program (a new mural on West Wall of 40 South expected after the new year and plans to repaint a back wall and treat a boarded area to match), monthly downtown business meetups promoted with a new rack card, and an upcoming "Love Local" promotional event slated for the end of the month. A separate report on the Hometown Holiday weekend noted 40 events, about 83,000 social media views and 1,500 interactions, 31 parade entries and 20 stores open late; Cully's was named best-decorated window.
On infrastructure, the DDA and city staff are continuing downtown streetscape planning; consultants have begun assembling cost options and will meet with the Michigan Department of Transportation this week to review what is permitted within MDOT right-of-way and what design options remain feasible.
Two formal motions recorded during the meeting approved the consent agenda and the November bills and accounts (the bills approval included a correction to an $11,800 line item that the presiding speaker said should be $1,800). Both motions passed by voice vote with no nays recorded. The board closed with holiday greetings and a note that it will reconvene in 2026.
The DDA listed several near-term items for the next meeting: final consideration of the branding policy and eligibility criteria for the Match on Main program, and continued work on the façade grant budget and redevelopment-ready priorities.
