Clawson DDA to apply for Oakland County Main Street tech funds, allocates money for downtown beautification and strategic planning

The Clawson Downtown Development Authority agreed Wednesday to apply for Oakland County Main Street technical-assistance funds and to prioritize the $10,000 grant toward downtown beautification and organizational planning.

Kristin, a DDA staff member, told the board the Oakland County Main Street tech assistance application is due March 21 and requires an invoice or backup showing how the grant will be used and confirmation the work will be completed by August. "With that, we have to have an invoice or some kind of backup as to what we're gonna be using the funds for," Kristin said.

At the organizational committee's recommendation, members proposed splitting the $10,000: about $6,500 for communications and beautification (including pots or baskets and other visible improvements) and $3,500 toward strategic-planning work or training. A committee member moved to spend up to $6,500 on downtown communications and beautification; Kristin said she would file the grant application specifying the $6,500/$3,500 split.

Board discussion focused on implementation choices. Members urged caution about watering and ongoing maintenance for hanging baskets and recommended using existing pots held by DPW where feasible. One member noted that reservoir-style pots might reduce watering needs, while others said larger buckets or longer bracket arms could be investigated. "We would have to have had them with the grower around October-ish to have them ready for the spring," Kristin said when explaining vendor timelines.

Several members questioned whether hiring an outside consultant for strategic planning would produce value beyond existing city and DDA plans. Supporters said the grant's deadline creates useful momentum and the smaller planning allocation could fund targeted training or bylaws updates rather than a full, costly consultant engagement.

Separately, the board formalized a budget action: members voted to create a new strategic-planning line and to allocate $3,500 from existing operating-supplies funds for that purpose. The transcript records a roll-call vote immediately after the motion; the motion carried with unanimous yes votes as recorded in the meeting.

The DDA asked staff to gather vendor quotes and an implementation plan before releasing funds. Kristin indicated she would submit the application using an approved vendor if required by Oakland County and return to the board with cost estimates and a plan for how beautification work would be executed and maintained.

Next steps: Kristin will submit the Oakland County Main Street tech assistance application by the March 21 deadline and will bring vendor quotes and a proposed implementation plan back to the DDA for final approval before funds are spent.