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Preserving Our History. Promoting Our Future.

Welcome! The Adrian Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program is committed to fostering a vibrant, historic, and economically resilient downtown district through community-driven revitalization.  This page is all about learning  who we are, how we operate alongside City Hall, and our prestigious statewide designation.

What is the DDA?

The Adrian Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was established by the City of Adrian in 1990 under Public Act 197 of 1975 (now recodified as Public Act 57 of 2018). The DDA is a specialized public authority designed to correct and prevent deterioration, encourage economic growth, preserve historic character, and undertake physical public improvements within the designated downtown district. The DDA’s daily operations are led by an Executive Director and guided by four active subcommittees aligned with our strategic master plans: Organization: Building partnerships, mobilizing volunteers, and securing funding. Promotion: Marketing downtown's unique assets and hosting community street events. Design: Enhancing physical spaces, beautification, streetscapes, and placemaking. Economic Vitality: Supporting existing businesses, recruiting new entrepreneurs, and expanding incentives.

What is the DDA Board Structure?

The DDA Board consists of the Mayor of the City of Adrian and 12 members appointed by the Mayor and formally approved by the City Commission. To ensure direct stakeholder representation, state law requires that at least seven (7) members have an active property or business interest within the downtown district, and at least one (1) member must be a resident living within the DDA boundaries.

How is the DDA Funded?

Unlike standard city departments, the DDA relies on unique, self-sustaining funding mechanisms designed to reinvest downtown wealth back into the downtown district: Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Capture: This is the DDA’s primary economic tool under PA 57. When property values rise within the DDA district due to private renovations and new developments, the new tax revenue generated (the increment) is captured and kept by the DDA to fund public improvements inside that exact same district, rather than being absorbed into the general county tax pool. Dedicated DDA Millage: The DDA receives a baseline of local property tax revenue generated from a dedicated 2-mill levy within the district. The Adrian DDA Fund: To expand our toolbox, we partner directly with the Lenawee Community Foundation (LCF). This non-endowed fund allows corporations, families, and residents to make 100% tax-deductible charitable donations directly to catalytic downtown projects, such as public parks, playgrounds, and fireworks displays.

What is the Main Street Approach?

Downtown Adrian has achieved the prestigious Master Level Michigan Main Street designation—the absolute highest and most mature tier of participation in the state program. Michigan Main Street is a program of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and is affiliated with the National Main Street Center. By utilizing the comprehensive, preservation-based Main Street Four-Point Approach®, we leverage state-level resources, specialized technical design training, and small business matching grants (like Match on Main) to cultivate a resilient commercial core.

For more information regarding the Michigan Main Street framework, visit these official sources:

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