Downtown Imlay City awash in hearts

IMLAY CITY — Hearts are popping up all over Imlay City’s historic downtown.

Monica Irelan, Imlay City’s Downtown Development Authority’s executive director, said the DDA February Hearts promotion is 28 percent ahead of last year’s event.

February Hearts, she explained, allows businesses to purchase a two-foot-tall red heart; decorate it and hang it from a light pole in the city’s historic district for the month. Last year, she said, 14 businesses participated, and so far this year 18 have purchased hearts.

Irelan also is waiting for proposals for design and implementation of a project to put bumpouts on Almont Alley and parking lot improvements for the DDAowned parking lot on Bancroft Street. The project, which is being funded by a Michigan Economic Development Corp., grant, is expected to be completed this summer.

The bumpouts, said Irelan will help slow traffic through the downtown, and the parking lot improvements will help make the DDA area more accessible. This project, she said, is a continuation of DDA improvements begun in 2005.

The DDA’s 2010 Recipe Walk Committee met for the first time Monday Feb. 1. Irelan said the five-year-old event “gets a little bigger every year.” This year’s Recipe Walk is slated for April 24.

She said All The Best Bridal, will be opening its banquet facility at 200 East Third Street for businesses and organizations outside the DDA this year. Irelan said she’s looking forward to seeing more participation from home-based businesses, crafters, churches and service groups.

She said for-profit ventures will be able to get a table at Recipe Walk for $20, while non-profit groups will be able to get a table for free.

Irelan said she’s planning to submit a grant application to the Greater Flint Arts Council Feb. 24 for the DDA’s summer concert series. If funding is available, the DDA is planning a 10-week concert series starting June 22.

Last year the Arts Council supplied just less than half the concert series’ funding. Irelan noted that until recently, the Arts Council wasn’t sure if it was getting funding from the state this year, so “the fact they’re calling for grant applications is a good sign.”

Irelan said that while she’s mapped out a concert series for the summer, she won’t sign contracts until she has funding in place.

By the end of the month the DDA expects to have two new features on its web site, www.icdda.com. Merchant Happenings, said Irelan will profile DDA businesses, while Downtown Deals will present coupons and specials online for DDA businesses.