Webinar Series

The cost to attend and/or view each webinar is $25 for MDA members and $45 for non-members.  Please contact the MDA  if you are interested in joining the MDA. 

The webinar series is sponsored by: MEDC, New Moon Visions, Lumecon, Giffels Webster, Beckett & Raeder, Traffic and Safety, Penchura, and Michigan Retailers Association.


Tuesday, August 18, 2020
1:00 pm
Love MI Local
Please register for Love MI Local by clicking here.
Now, more than ever, supporting local businesses is essential to the survival of downtowns. How can downtown management organizations provide marketing support to local businesses?  What are small, Michigan-owned businesses doing to adjust to the ever-changing climate? The Lyon Area Taskforce was formed in April to promote area businesses as they began to pivot back toward opening. The taskforce has developed “Show your Love for Lyon”, a local campaign designed to foster a continuing sense of community while ultimately driving business to local shops and establishments. During this webinar, we will hear from the organizers of the initiative on their comprehensive marketing plan.  Also joining the conversation is Lisa Diggs, Buy Michigan Now.  Lisa will provide us insight regarding the latest trends in Michigan-owned businesses and the power of keeping our dollars local.

The cost to attend and/or view each webinar is $25 for MDA members and $45 for non-members.  MDA members, please contact the MDA for your promo code before registering to receive member pricing.



Creating a 30, 90, 180 Day Downtown Plan
A video recording is now available. 
"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!" Ingrid Tighe, Executive Director of the Birmingham Shopping District, speaks to business owners and community leaders about how to navigate and plan during the COVID-19 crisis. How can a downtown manager assist a person who feels overwhelmed and uncertain about how to move forward with their business? Using the Leadership Action Cycle as a framework, Ingrid discusses ideas for businesses to develop a 30-day, 90-day, and 180-day plan and in turn, help downtown managers understand and assist in the implementation of the suggestions, programs, and initiatives.
Presenter: Ingrid Tighe, Executive Director, Birmingham Shopping District
This webinar is sponsored by Lumecon.
A video recording is now available.  Please register for Creating a 30, 90, 180-Day Downtown Plan by clicking here.
The cost to view this webinar is $25 for MDA members and $45 for non-members.


Refocusing DDA and TIF Plans in the Wake of COVID-19
A video recording is now available.
During this presentation, Annette Knowles, City of Monroe, Cristina Sheppard-Decius, POW Strategies and East/West Dearborn DDA, and Leah DuMouchel, Beckett & Raeder, will explain why now is the time to evaluate existing Tax Increment Finance Plans.  Learn what to look for and what to add to existing TIF Plans that can help you support your downtown businesses survive this economic crisis. Details will be provided on the process for amending TIF plans, as well as tools you can use while sheltering in place to engage the community. 
Presenters:  Leah DuMouchel, AICP Principal, Beckett & Raeder, Annette Knowles, City of Monroe, Cristina Sheppard-Decius, POW! Strategies, East/West Dearborn DDA
This webinar is sponsored by Beckett & Raeder.
A video recording is now available. Please register for Refocusing DDA and TIF Plans in the Wake of COVID-19 by clicking here.
The cost to attend and/or view each webinar is $25 for MDA members and $45 for non-members.  

Two Peninsulas, One Pure Michigan
A video recording is now available.
Community leaders are expected to play an ever-increasing role in the battle to get Michigan's economy moving forward again in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak. There is an even greater need to form new alliances and collaborations to prepare businesses, residents and visitors alike to be ready for new and evolving expectations. Communities need to formalize plans to reengage a sense of normalcy and connectedness even while promoting social distancing and they need to do so while making it clear that all are welcome. Pure Michigan is ready to help develop and share how your community can adopt a new "Pure Michigan pledge".  Learn how Pure Michigan, downtown organizations, chambers of commerce, and visitor bureaus will play an even more important role in the economic comeback of communities throughout Michigan.
Presenter: Dave Lorenz, Vice President, Travel Michigan, MEDC
This webinar is sponsored by MEDC.
A video recording of the webinar is now available. A link to the recording will be sent to you after you register. Please register for the webinar, Two Peninsulas, One Pure Michigan, by clicking here. 
The cost to attend and/or view each webinar is $25 for MDA members and $45 for non-members.  

Creating A Socially Safe Downtown
A Video Recording is Now Available
This session takes us outside. Jean Derenzy, chief executive for the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority, will explain how Traverse City closed downtown's main street to vehicular traffic to provide more space for pedestrians and businesses to utilize. You'll also hear tips on how to approach and adapt your downtown streetscapes to allow for safe and adequate physical distancing while encouraging patrons to shop and dine. Whether seasonal or permanent, Stacey Tobar of Giffels Webster will explain how these design options will inspire simple and aesthetically pleasing solutions. 
This webinar is sponsored by Giffels Webster.
Presenters: Jean Derenzy, Traverse City DDA & Stacey Tobar, Giffles Webster
This webinar is sponsored by Giffles Webster.
A video recording of the webinar is now available.  A link to the recording will be sent to you after you register. Please register for Creating a Socially Safe Downtown by clicking here.
The cost to attend and/or view each webinar is $25 for MDA members and $45 for non-members.  


Bad Ass Your Board Now More Than Ever!
A Video Recording is Now Available.
Now is the time to clearly communicate with your Downtown Management Board to define and discuss their purpose and responsibilities. Also, it is necessary to clearly identify the critical role they must now play as partners with the Downtown Executive Director to establish and/or maintain communication with all downtown stakeholders and volunteers. Downtown revitalization succeeds when all hands are on deck.  This webinar will help you build the political support you need by seeking the right mix of board members and partnering with local government.  
Presenter: Jeff Siegler, Revitalize, or Die
This webinar is sponsored by Revitalize, or Die.
A video recording of the webinar is now available. A link to the recording will be sent to you after you register. Please register for Bad Ass Your Board Now More than Ever by clicking here.
The cost to attend and/or view each webinar is $25 for MDA members and $45 for non-members. 


Destination Marketing
A Video Recording is Now Available.
Learn from example with this webinar that features how Prescott, Arizona has created a successful destination marketing strategy.  Discover latest trends in the tourism industry and what might attract leisure travelers to your town, especially as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.   Your town has a story to tell - use it to draw visitors without relying on large special events.  
Presenter:  John Heiney
This webinar is sponsored by Penchura.
A video recording of the webinar is now available. A link to the recording will be sent to you after you register. Please register for Destination Marketing by clicking here.
The cost to attend and/or view each webinar is $25 for MDA members and $45 for non-members.