SOUTHWEST DETROIT’S MEXICANTOWN-HUBBARD COMMUNITIES RECEIVES 2023 MAIN STREET AMERICA ACCREDITATION

Multi-million-dollar projects and community development programs elevated the commercial district to performance standards set by Main Street America™

DETROIT – June 14, 2023 – The Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) is pleased to announce that the Mexicantown-Hubbard Communities (MHC) has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program. The accreditation was awarded by Main Street America in recognition of the district’s exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. The announcement was made today by SDBA Interim President and CEO Laura Chavez-Wazeerud-Din.

 

The announcement comes five years after MHC received a Main Street designation from the State of Michigan and its Michigan Main Street Program and signifies the district has met performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. 

“Receiving Main Street accreditation speaks to our community’s hard work and dedication to building a thriving business district,” said Chavez-Wazeerud-Din. “Thanks to opportunities made possible by Main Street America, in collaboration with the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan, the Mexicantown-Hubbard Communities business district has seen some of its largest scale projects in decades. These projects have succeeded in raising the profile of Southwest Detroit while honoring its cultural and historical integrity, thanks in part to Main Street’s preservation-based economic development model.”

The Main Street – MHC partnership has generated more than $566,000 in private investments, facilitated eight façade and building improvements, helped open seven new businesses, and leveraged 2,238 volunteer hours. Key projects include La Joya Gardens, a $24-million mixed-use and mixed-income residential and commercial building, as well as the $7.5 million revamping of Bagley St. and West Vernor Highway streetscapes.

Since 2018, the Michigan Main Street Program has worked with MHC providing consulting, training, and technical assistance to drive revitalization. As a result, the MHC Main Street Program has provided community development tools including facade improvement programs, real estate advocacy services, bilingual food business workshops and certifications, mentorship and referral services, and assistance with city permitting, licensing, plan review, zoning variances, and inspections. 

“We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 862 Accredited Main Street America programs, and their steadfast dedication to nurture economically and culturally vibrant downtown districts,” said Hannah White, Interim President & CEO of Main Street America. “The increase in the size and impact of our network speaks volumes to the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of local communities and drive innovative solutions.”

In 2022, Main Street America programs generated $6.2 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 7,657 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 29,174 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,688 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,528,535 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, it generated $24.07 of new investment back into their downtown communities.

Collectively, 2 million people live or work within the boundaries of designated Main Street America districts. An estimated workforce of 1.1 million people contribute their skills and expertise to advancing the missions of these historic downtowns and commercial corridors. 

MHC’s performance is annually evaluated by the Michigan Main Street program, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. To quality for Accreditation status, communities must meet a set of rigorous standards that include commitments to building grassroots revitalization programs, fostering strong public-private partnerships, nurturing economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.

For more information about the SDBA and MHC, visit www.southwestdetroit.com 

About Main Street America

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

About the Southwest Detroit Business Association

The Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) fosters innovation, drive and commitment in the Southwest Detroit community. Established in 1957, it supports the community’s vision for a healthy, vibrant neighborhood. SDBA works with local businesses, investors, entrepreneurs, customers and neighbors to develop a place where more and more people are choosing to live, work, shop and play – a place where you find Business Building Community: Community Building Business. For more information, visit www.southwestdetroit.com.