Below are four (4) areas which MSOC feels are current issues/needs that are not being met and now need your attention. Every reasonable effort by our State Legislators, as well as County and local officials to secure these needs should be taken. Through innovation, creativity and positive persistence we can find a way.

I. Infrastructure: All of our downtowns, in varying degrees, need to upgrade, sometimes replace, or                    add new basic infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, water, sewer, electrical, parking, utilities).

Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Budgets are also being hit hard by the economy. We must continue to allow DDAs to utilize Tax Increment Financing as a viable source of funding for projects.

Wifi Communication has great potential and needs to be provided as basic infrastructure

The higher density of core downtowns provides for more efficient sustainable use of infrastructure

II. Priority/Catalyst Economic Development Projects: Many of our downtowns have identified key projects. Current funding limitations are negatively impacting these projects. Seed money and/or creative financial packages are necessary. Many projects were not included as “shovel ready” in the first round of “stimulus projects” because there simply was not enough time to prepare cost estimates and plans.

Creative financial tools are needed to implement projects and increase property tax base, long term

Tax Incentives (especially the Historic Preservation Tax Credits) are vital

Loan Programs need to be activated by the banks and other creative financial programs are needed.

Tax Abatement options need to continue (Obsolete Property & Commercial Rehabilitation), limited basis

Brownfield Programs need to be expanded

III. Farmers Markets: Increasingly popular and in high demand, they respond to the need for

fresh food at low cost and the needs of improved health consciousness. Most of our downtowns either

have, or are in the process of creating, farmers markets. Partnerships are being created to better

educate the public, farmers and market operators and to promote them.

Partnerships with MSU Extension, Oakland County Farmers Market, Detroit Eastern Market

and Local Growers are now being explored

Start-Up Costs for many communities and Food Systems Analysis is needed

A Demonstration Greenhouse & Central Warehouse are needed (at Oakland County Farmers Market?)

IV. Design Services: Professional Design Services are often the first step for any business to open or upgrade their facilities. The ability to provide basic building designs and site plans saves costs and is very important to businesses in their attempts to obtain local approvals and project financing. We need to fund the following:

Project Cost Identification & Identification of all applicable Financial Incentives

Design Concept Drawings & Site Plans

Qualifying Projects for all available Incentives

Assistance in working with Local, State & Federal Regulations and Financial Packaging