• 1st Official DDA Meeting..........February 10, 1982

• DDA Bylaws Adopted...........June 16, 1982

• TIFA District approved by taxing units...........December, 1984

• Approved by City Council.............March 5, 1985

• Historic Central Business District Designation...........May 7, 1982

The first official DDA meeting on record was on February 10, 1982. Directors were: Bill Moore, Jerry Lewis, Bob Lewis, Mayor Vickers Hansen, Oliver Hansen, Ron Steinberg, Art Southerton, Dennis terHorst, Thomas Stege, Dave Carlson. It is notable that two original DDA 1982 members, Dave Carlson and Ron Steinberg, are 2009 DDA members. Dennis terHorst served the DDA from 1982 to 2008.  Goals and objectives in 1982 were:

1. Authority purpose: The protection, preservation and development of a viable downtown entity.
2. Establishment of a set of guidelines for signage.
3. Parking acquisition and control.
4. Form a welcome committee to welcome new business with a guidelines packet.
5. Establish a D.D.A. master plan using the Downtown Preservation and Development Plan as well as other sources of input.
6. Establish a series of seminars for training in retail sales, etc.
7. Work closely with Dunham House project to assist with needs project may have.
8. Meet with city, county and school; district to investigate implications of tax increment financing.
9. Stimulate establishment of new businesses that fill a known need.

Purpose of the Downtown Development Authority Act:

Act No. 197 of Public Acts of 1975 of the State of Michigan, commonly referred to as the Downtown Development Authority Act, was created in part to correct and prevent deterioration of business districts; to promote economic growth and revitalization; to encourage historic preservation; to authorize the levy and collection of taxes, the issuance of bonds and the use of tax increment financing in the accomplishment of specific downtown development activities contained in locally-adopted development plans for older or traditional central business districts of large and medium-sized Michigan Cities.

The Act seeks to attack problems of urban decline, strengthen existing areas and encourage new private developments in the downtown districts of our communities. It seeks to accomplish this goal by providing communities with the necessary legal, monetary and organizational tools to revitalize downtown districts either through public initiated project undertakings or in concert with privately motivated development projects.

• Tax itself to raise operating revenues;
• Study and analyze economic changes and the impact of metropolitan growth on the downtown district;
• Plan, develop and finance construction or rehabilitation of public or private facilities including multi-family housing which aids the economic growth of the downtown;
• Buy, sell, lease, convey, own, or dispose of property as both a lessor and lessee;
• Issue revenue bonds to construct revenue producing public facilities;
• Issue tax increment bonds to make public improvements necessary to accommodate private development.

• Engage in such activities without prior approval of its plans by the municipal governing body and the public in general.