DIDA to Debate 2009 Flower Basket Progam Thursday

IRONWOOD, MI - Monday, February 23, 2009 - Two topics will be the focus at the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority's (DIDA)  regular monthly meeting on Thursday, February 26, 2009, at 8:00 AM, in the Women's Club Room on the second floor of the Ironwood Memorial Building.

First, and foremost on the DIDA's agenda is to discuss and consider action on the 2009 downtown Flower Basket program. The second major topic topic of discussion is an update on the Cool Cities Blueprints for Michigan's Downtowns program. The City of Ironwood will work with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the national downtown consulting firm, HyettPalma, to formulate a downtown economic development action agenda. Developing the agenda will entail conducting a detailed market analysis of the City, determining the downtown's long-term economic assets and challenges and creating an aggressive downtown action plan.

The program was developed through a partnership made up of the MEDC, Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and the Michigan Municipal League (MML). The MEDC and MSHDA have committed a total of $200,000 to fund the project, this round in six Michigan cities. The City of Ironwood was required to match the amount of funding that was allocated to the community to pay for the study. Ironwood's financial share was $15,000.