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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Residents question village tactics for drawing business

State of Village Address yields poor turnout from local community

By Daniel Lai, Editor

PUBLISHED: February 14, 2008

Addressing topics ranging from police services to the Michigan Department of Transportation's M-52 reconstruction project, Village President Pat Vailliencourt's message reached a sparse audience Feb. 7 during a State of the Village Address.

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Though cold weather and sporting events prevented a large turnout at the Village Hall, those in attendance had plenty of issues to discuss.

Manchester resident Don Limpert said one of the biggest issues he feels the council has not adequately laid out involves a detailed plan on how to bring businesses back to the village.

"What does it take to attract someone here rather than somewhere else?" he said. "All the plans for physical improvements to the downtown area through the grant given to the Downtown Development Authority are all wonderful window dressings but it won't make a dime for the businesses who are here.

"A pretty downtown with vacant window fronts is not going to help anybody. The beautification of downtown is just a small piece of the puzzle."

Though Vailliencourt acknowledged the work ahead, she said she believes the village is on track to bring future growth to the area as the state climbs out of its current recession.

"If you look at small and large communities from here to Ann Arbor, we are all facing the same problem," she said. "We have to figure out how to not only attract businesses, but keep them here. There is no blueprint that says 'do this and business will come.'

"Because of the timing of the M-52 project, the downtown enhancement project moved forward, so now we'll be able to look at a plan on how to attract the businesses so when the economy does turn around, we're positioned to take every opportunity we can."

Limpert said he feels the village should concentrate its efforts on drawing "destination services" or trade businesses that draw on unique clientele such as clock makers, to the area.

"That's the best hope for a small town today to keep the downtown area alive," he said.

With the DDA poised to begin drafting preliminary plans for the downtown area, Vailliencourt said she feels the beautification will be a strong driving force behind bringing businesses back to Manchester.

"Space downtown is an issue and we're working together with the merchants, the DDA, the Historic District committee and the Chamber of Commerce to find new ways to bring the right businesses downtown," she said. "Phase one is to address the maintenance and parking issues and then focus on marketing our community."

MDOT will hold an open house for the public from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Village Hall Feb. 20 to allow residents a chance to learn more about the M-52 realignment scheduled for 2009.

Editor Daniel Lai can be reached at 428-8173 or dlai@heritage.com.