Archived:
» "Our Town" Celebrates Second Year
» Exterior Building Secuirty Equipment
» Improving Veterans Memorial Gardens
» Business Watch Security Seminar
» Delhi Holiday TV
» Community Business Officer Fills Unique Role
» Commercial Improvement Program Expanded
Memorial Day Parade. May 29th, 2006
The Holt American Legion is sponsoring Holt’s annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. The route has changed this year. The parade will begin on Holt Road (near the railroad tracks) and proceed west to Aurelius Road. The parade will continue north on Aurelius Road to the Delhi Township Community Services Center and the Veteran's Memorial Gardens for a short ceremony. Everyone is invited to an Open House at the American Legion at 4294 Veterans Drive.
The American Legion invites all groups or individuals to participate in the Parade. Participants will gather across from Lumber Town on Holt Road (4000 W. Holt Road) beginning at 1:00 PM.
Date: January 2006
Business Watch Security Seminar a Big Success
On January 26, the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Delhi Charter Township Downtown Development Authority sponsored a business security seminar. Several local business people attended the first of what is planned to be a quarterly series of meetings designed to provide Delhi businesses with the most up-to-date information on crime prevention and security. January’s seminar featured presentations on identity fraud and emergency preparedness lead by the Sheriff’s Office along with a primer from the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office on their Bad Check Restitution Program. Deputy Dennis Hull, the Delhi Business Community Policing Officer, designed and moderated the session.
Future seminars will feature business security equipment which is currently available in the market and pre-employment screening techniques. The next session is tentatively scheduled for the last week in April and will be devoted to security equipment capabilities, costs and benefits.
As a follow-up to the Business Watch Seminar held earlier this year, the Ingham County Sheriff's Office facilitated a Business Security Seminar on April 26th in Holt. Experts including Mr. James R. Kus from Michigan State University, Mr. Michael Thompson of Joseph A. Young & Associates and Mr. Dennis Phillips of Central Security Alarm made highly informative presentations on various aspects of security in the business place. Deputy Dennis Hull organized the presentations while arrangements for publicity, meeting space and refreshments were handled by the Delhi Township Downtown Development Authority.
The business seminar series will resume in the fall. Watch for announcements on this web site as well as in the fall edition of the DDA's "Our Town" newsletter. If you would like further information or have ideas for future seminars, please contact Deputy Dennis Hull at 517-244-1826
Holt Hometown Festival. August 26th, 2006
Holt’s annual Hometown Festival has become a highlight of late summer, and continues to grow each year. It gets off to a fast start with a 5K run/walk, pancake breakfast, and parade,
and ends with a spectacular firework finale. In between, this day-long celebration truly offers something for everyone, including kids’ activities, softball tournament, classic car show and much more.
Official Home Web Site:
http://www.holtfestival.com/
Contact:
Chuck Grinnell
Phone: 694-4048
Date: December 2005
Business Events Sign
Do you want to promote a special sale or event at your business? Delhi Township’s revised sign ordinance is designed to accommodate that need, while ensuring that the business district maintains an attractive appearance.
The ordinance allows businesses to use a portable sign for a limited time to promote a specific event or sale. Signs may be used for a total of 15 days within a three-month period. In order to ensure consistent, high-quality signage, the Township has entered into an agreement with several local companies who will rent the signs to businesses—and even drop them off and pick them up.
If you wish to use a portable sign, you must obtain a permit from the Delhi Township office. Permits are $25. Most of the sign companies will handle this detail on your behalf. You will need to tell them the dates you will be using the sign, the sign company you are working with, and the type of sign being used. Once the permit has been issued, you may obtain your sign from the sign company.
Call the Delhi Township office at 694-8281 for additional information about the ordinance (Tracy Carney-Miller) or to obtain a permit (Andrea Donahue).
Date: December 2005
Delhi Holiday TV
For the third straight holiday season, Holt area businesses were offered the opportunity to participate in a cooperative holiday television advertising campaign through Fox 47. With funding help from the DDA, the commercial packages, including production, were available at an attractive price. The DDA solicited proposals from all the local television stations in order to select the most advantageous package.
32 businesses participated this year—up from 26 last year. Due to the greater number of participating businesses, the number of Holt-themed commercials in the campaign also increased. A total of 608 30-second spots and 32 news billboards promoted Holt businesses from November 7 through Dec. 23, 2005.
Date: August 2005
Community Business Officer Fills Unique Role
While Delhi Charter Township contracts with the Ingham County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement, the Downtown Development Authority supplements this contract to fund the position of Community Business Officer. Originally funded by a COPS grant, the Community Business Officer position began in 1996 and is a special assignment through the sheriff's's Office. Filling this unique role is Deputy Dennis J. Hull, who serves as the liaison between the sheriff's's Office and Delhi Township businesses.
The Community Business Officer is a police officer first, but his special charge is to investigate all crimes involving businesses. Deputy Hull receives from 20-50 complaints each month, ranging from parking violations, abandoned vehicles, and suspicious situations to counterfeit, B&E’s and embezzlement. Although there are 450 registered businesses in Delhi Township, the Community Business Officer’s focus is the Downtown Triangle. This officer also organizes and presides at seminars dealing with business concerns such as security, robbery, fraud and identify theft. These are informal events, often held in response to a request from a business to train their employees in a particular area. “Whatever they want that deals with law enforcement, that’s what we try to do for them,” says Deputy Hull. “Anything to do with how to keep your business from being a victim.” The next seminar is scheduled for January 26, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at Charlar Place, 4230 Charlar Drive.
Deputy Hull believes that businesses need to be proactive in preventing problems, rather than reacting once a problem has occurred. In addition to offering seminars, he helps businesses by checking their outside lighting, security alarms, and video surveillance systems, and works with the business owner to ensure they are as safe as possible. He feels the employees of a business are more in tune with potential situations, because the Township still has that “small town” flavor and people know each other.
There are two reasons this program works, says Deputy Hull—the backing of the Township officials, and the support of the sheriff's's office administration. “We have an administration that is very community policing oriented, and they’re very supportive of all community policing that is done. They are truly committed to making this work.” Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth says the program is “good for business, good for the Township, good for the sheriff's office and good for Dennis.”
Deputy Hull has been with the Ingham County Sheriff's Department for nine years, four as Community Business Officer. He went into police work after 17 years in his family business. “I had always wanted to be a police officer,” he says. Born and raised in Holt, he still lives here with his family, and says he is fortunate to work in the community in which he resides.
Date: November 2004
Commercial Improvement Program Expanded
The Commercial Rehabilitation Rebate Program’s rebates have been increased to make the deal even better for qualifying local businesses.
The DDA’s Commercial Rehabilitation Rebate Program (CRRP) offers rebates for eligible property owners making improvements to commercial building exteriors, signage, landscaping and parking areas within the DDA District in Delhi Charter Township. This is an exceptional opportunity to partially defray the cost of improving property while adding value and increasing the appeal of our business district. What’s more, the DDA Board of Directors recently increased the amount of the allowable rebate and the percentage of the project cost rebated by the DDA.
Eligible rebate amounts have been increased to a maximum of $50,000 (the previous maximum was $20,000) and the percentage of DDA participation in eligible expenses was increased from 40% to 50%. These changes are effective immediately. Eligible items for rebate participation include exterior repairs and cosmetic improvements, including roof repair or replacement; awnings, signage, windows, siding, painting, entryways, landscaping, parking improvements and more. Demolition and limited architectural expenses are also eligible. Eligible buildings generally must be existing structures used for commercial or office purposes within the DDA District.
The CRRP was initiated 13 years ago and over 100 Holt businesses have participated in the program since its inception. Noting that the limits of the program have not been altered since its inception while costs have continued to rise, DDA Executive Director Al McFadyen pointed out the DDA Board felt it was time for some enhancement to the CRRP. “Over the years, we have had terrific participation in the program,” McFadyen says. However, he added that much of the recent participation has been in the form of smaller, lower impact projects. “We think we can broaden the participation level and magnify the effect on the community if we can get businesses to think more expansively by increasing the program limits,” McFadyen added. The DDA plans to heavily market the enhanced CRRP. McFadyen pointed out that the program offers a tremendous opportunity which may not always be available, so DDA District businesses should seriously consider using the CRRP.
Date: June 30, 2004
Inauguration of Quarterly Newsletter "Our Town"
The Delhi Charter Township DDA is pleased to announce the inauguration of our quarterly newsletter "Our Town." The first edition was published on June 20, 2004, and copies were included within that weekend's edition of the Holt Community News. Copies are available at various locations throughout the Township. Copies of "Our Town" are also mailed directly to businesses within the DDA District. "Our Town" is intended to improve communication with the business community and to provide Township residents with news about local business and the activities of the DDA. Look for the latest edition soon on this web-site.
Cedar Street Lighting Project Information Meeting
A meeting to review the DDA’s plans for the extension of the ornamental lighting program along the east and west sides of Cedar Street from Holt Road to Aurelius will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in the Community Services Center Board Room (2074 Aurelius Road) on March 5, 2007.
This project will be very similar to previous ornamental lighting projects undertaken by the DDA on Holt Road and Aurelius. In addition to the installation of a total of approximately 50 light poles and fixtures along both sides of Cedar Street, the project will include underground burial of many of the above ground utilities (power, cable, telephone and fiber optic lines), restoration of landscaping and replacement of public sidewalks. Virtually all work will be completed within the Cedar Street right of way and all costs associated with the project will be paid by the DDA.
Representatives of the firm designing these improvements for the DDA (Landscape Architects and Planners of Lansing), Consumers Energy and the DDA will be present to discuss the plans for this project and answer questions.
Holt High School Students to design next round of Holt Banners
New light pole banners for the community are going to be designed by Holt High school art students! The designs are to be produced and submitted for review by the middle of February, 2007. A panel of judges, including members of the DDA board, will select a winning design, It will be screen printed on to canvas banners, and will join the rotation of existing designs appearing on light poles throughout the year. The winner will receive recognition, as will the class participants. The school art department will receive a grant for materials to aid community-oriented artistic endeavors. Look for the new design in Spring of 2007!
“Our Town” Celebrates Second Year
This issue of Our Town marks the DDA newsletter’s two-year anniversary. Since the first issue was launched in September of 2004, we’ve spotlighted many local businesses and service organizations, shared success stories, and strived to provide a variety of information of interest to Delhi Township businesses and residents alike.
The idea of developing a newsletter came out of business interviews conducted by the Chesapeake Group as part of the market research done for the DDA three years ago. These interviews with business owners pointed to a need to create higher visibility for local businesses, and to enhance the connection between businesses and the community.
These are the goals of Our Town. By publishing this newsletter, we strive to share positive stories about Holt and the DDA area, and to introduce you to the people who work every day to make Delhi Township a great place to live and do business.
The DDA wants to make Our Town an informative and enjoyable publication. We are always interested in your feedback—whether you have an idea for a story or suggestions on how we might improve the newsletter. Please contact Al McFadyen at the DDA at 517.699.3866, or al.mcfadyen@delhitownship.com, with any ideas or comments.
Exterior Building Security Equipment Now Eligible Under CRRP
The Board of Directors of the DDA approved a number of revisions to the Commercial Rehabilitation Rebate Program at their October, 2006 meeting. Among these changes is the addition to the list of eligible improvements of exterior premises security equipment. Examples of such security equipment would be camera systems, motion detectors and enhanced lighting among other things. A maximum match amount of $ 5,000 was established for this category of CRRP expenses.
The Board also formalized the inclusion within the CRRP program of landscaping, parking, signage and dumpster enclosures for new non-residential construction within the DDA District. Please contact Helen Harrison at 517-699-3866 or Helen.Harrison@delhitownship.com for further information.
Date: December 2006
Delhi Holiday TV
For the past two holiday seasons, the Delhi DDA has offered area businesses the opportunity to take advantage of a holiday television advertising package—with the DDA underwriting a portion of the cost. Thanks to great participation and favorable response by local businesses, the DDA is pleased to announce that the advertising package will be offered again this year. The DDA evaluated proposals from each of the local TV stations in order to determine the package which offered the best overall value for Holt businesses and selected WILX-TV 10’s proposal. As in the past, the commercials will showcase the Holt/Delhi area while also featuring two non-competing businesses. A TV 10 representative will present the package to the businesses, and will handle commercial production.
If you would like to receive further information about the cooperative advertising package, please contact Mindy Wise, WILX-TV 10 account executive, 517.393-0110.
Delhi DDA Funds Further Improvements to Veterans Memorial Gardens
In April of this year, the Board of Directors of the Delhi Township Downtown Development Authority allocated $ 193,000 in DDA funds for the construction of a pavilion and restroom building at the southwest corner of Veterans Memorial Gardens. Along with a $ 20,000 private contribution and additional funding from Delhi Charter Township, sufficient funds are now available to construct the restrooms and pavilion.
The budgeted cost of the completed project is just over $ 227,000. This will allow for construction of a 700 square foot building containing restrooms and a small storage room along with a 400 square foot open air pavilion attached to the restroom building. Also included within this budget are walkways leading from the pavilion and restrooms to the center of the Veterans Memorial Gardens and lighting. The walks will feature the same type of decorative stamped concrete used in other sections of Veterans Memorial Gardens.
Construction is scheduled to commence shortly after Memorial Day and should be completed by mid-August. The general contractor for the work is Moore Trosper Construction of Holt.