In 2006, the City of Dexter Downtown Development Authority commissioned the preparation of a Strategic Plan. Since that time, the DDA has undertaken a number of projects outlined
in the Plan, put several on hold, due to the impacts of the 2008 recession on its budget, and selected not to initiate others.
The Dexter DDA recognizes that Dexter is a growing and desirable community, and that managing the District, especially the downtown is a balancing act, which requires sound fiscal management, careful planning, and diligent management and maintenance of its assets. It’s with that understanding that the Board has determined an update to its Downtown Development Strategic Plan is needed. This update will create a clear, documented and shared vision, or “game plan,” for the Downtown that sets the stage for funding strategies, capital improvement programming, new development, attraction of new and retention of existing businesses, and marketing and promotion of the Downtown and DDA District. An integral part of the Strategic Planning process will be determining a Community Vision for Downtown.
The Downtown Development Strategic Plan Update must also provide updated demographic and market information that the City, business owners, and investors can utilize when making business location decisions, as well as decisions on the (re)development of Downtown Dexter. The Dexter DDA seeks to understand the downtown real estate and economic market in order to support a diverse mix of businesses; improve the physical nature of downtown; and better understand how its current policies and plans affect our goals. The selected firm will recommend updated detailed strategies, policies, and plans to assist the DDA and City in achieving these goals. These recommendations will be made in both written and illustrative form.
