Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) is an economic development program specifically targeted to provide technical assistance to the 30 traditional downtowns in the County. These historic commercial districts each have a unique sense of place which, as part of a national trend, are becoming increasingly popular as places to do business, shop, dine, live and experience family activities. MSOC is now a partner with the National Main Street Center (NMSC), a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Founded in 1980, the NMSC’s “Four Point Approach” of Organization, Design, Promotion, and Economic Vitality has been successfully utilized in over 1,600 downtowns in 40 states since 1980.
Main Street Oakland County Objectives:
- To empower Oakland County’s traditional downtowns to establish and/or maintain successful, comprehensive, ongoing revitalization programs
- To build a greater awareness of the economic and quality of life importance of revitalizing and maintaining the County’s historic commercial districts
- To provide the stakeholders of Oakland County’s traditional downtowns with technical assistance and training resources
- To provide information about downtown revitalization to the County’s communities, business organizations, and residents
- To assist communities in implementing the Four Point Approach in each of the County’s traditional downtowns and corridors
- To facilitate networking and communication between communities and downtown revitalization
- To provide information about County business finance programs and other economic development resources to existing downtown businesses and to those considering downtown locations
- To monitor and measure progress and success in local downtown revitalization efforts
- To assist each of the 30 traditional downtowns and town centers in the county to help them realize their full economic development potential while preserving their sense of place