Main Street Oakland County marks $540M in investment

Main Street Oakland County recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with some impressive numbers in its 11 downtowns.

$540 million of investment
More than 4,000 jobs created
407 new business established
Over 2.7 million square feet of floor space (primarily retail) constructed
$6 million-plus in cash sponsorships for events and programs
More than 129,000 volunteer hours

And those downtowns don't include two of the county's most vibrant – Birmingham and Royal Oak. Main Street Oakland County includes downtowns in Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Highland, Holly, Lake Orion, Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester and Walled Lake.

It's all part of Oakland County Executive L Brooks Patterson's vision of diversifying the economy so it can become more resistant to economic downturns.

Bob Donohue, program director for Main Street Oakland County, says that developing and redeveloping property and businesses in the county's urban centers is a "key part" of its overall economic policy. Accomplishing this includes creating a sustainable environment that emphasizes making the most of a downtown's assets through practices like historic preservation.

For instance, Main Street Oakland County communities generated $19 million in new investment and attracted 19 businesses that created more than 300 jobs last year. Although the construction of 11 new buildings played a part, the renovation of 237 others proved to be the main driver of that economic opportunity.

Source: Bob Donohue, program director for Main Street Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

Main Street Oakland County marks $540M in investment

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