About Us | Downtown Adrian

Shape the Future of Your Downtown.

Get Involved.

The Adrian DDA is a group of passionate volunteers dedicated to enhancing, preserving, and promoting our rich history and vibrant arts & culture through meaningful partnerships with residents, business owners, and stakeholders in Downtown Adrian.

We are always looking for passionate community members, innovative entrepreneurs, and dedicated property owners to join our mission. Serving on the DDA Board gives you a direct voice in shaping downtown development, public streetscapes, and catalytic business grants.

The Downtown Development Authority Board

The DDA Board serves as the lead organization in the preservation and economic revitalization of downtown Adrian. The board oversees our downtown development plans, coordinates TIF capture distributions, and manages district-wide commercial programs.

Board meetings are held monthly at Adrian City Hall, are fully open to the public in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, and include opportunities for public comment.

Current DDA Board Members 2026 Chairperson: Darcy Gifford Vice Chairperson: Kristina Henning Treasurer: Melissa Jodis Secretary: Meredith Elliott Mayor Angela Sword Heath Jere Righter Deveny Rosebrock Tara Coumoundouros Shane Wilson Christina Lewis Thomas Doney (Associate Member)

DDA Board Eligibility & Vacancies

Board vacancies are formal mayoral appointments approved by the City Commission. By state law (Public Act 57 of 2018), appointees must fall within specific categories:

District Stakeholders: Must have an interest (ownership, long-term lease, or officer status) in a business or property located within the DDA District.
Resident At-Large: Must be a resident living directly within the City of Adrian limits. (At least one board member must reside within the physical DDA district boundaries.)

Submit a Formal City Board & Commission Application to the Mayor's office if you are interested in a formal Board of Directors vacancy

DDA Achievement Committees: Anyone Can Join!

While formal Board positions have strict legal residency or business requirements, our DDA subcommittees are open to absolutely anyone! You do not need to own property or run a business to help shape Adrian—we are all working together to build a better community.

Our work is organized around the Main Street Four-Point Approach®, split into four action-oriented subcommittees:

Design Committee What they do: Guide the visual and physical enhancement of downtown. This committee coordinates historic preservation education, public art, mural installations, streetscapes, seasonal floral brackets, and district-wide beautification projects. Recent Accomplishments: Coordinating the landmark "Welcome to Adrian" four-corner mural and downtown lighting improvements.

Economic Vitality Committee What they do: Identify new market opportunities, support existing merchants, and catalyze property development [86]. This group works with realtors, property owners, and financiers to secure small business matching grants and fill vacant commercial spaces. Recent Accomplishments: Facilitating state Match on Main grants for local startups and supporting historic redevelopments.

Organization Committee What they do: Build consensus and cooperation among all downtown stakeholders [83]. This committee manages volunteer recruitment and databases, coordinates joint communications, and oversees fundraising campaigns—including the non-endowed DDA Fund with the Lenawee Community Foundation. Recent Accomplishments: Coordinating volunteer initiatives representing thousands of hours of local community service.

Promotion Committee What they do: Position Downtown Adrian as the center of community life and regional commerce.. This committee markets the district as a dining and entertainment destination, manages digital media channels, and plans events like First Fridays, street festivals, and holiday open houses. Recent Accomplishments: Spurring downtown visitation to over 1.5 million annual visits and launching our TikTok promotional campaigns.

Get Involved Today!

Are you ready to share your ideas, roll up your sleeves, and work alongside your neighbors? Use the paths below to raise your hand and join a committee: