The Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) has awarded Cadillac and three other Michigan communities as the winners of its first-ever Buy Nearby Downtown Grant Program. The $7,500 award will be used to fund unique ideas that promote their downtown shopping districts.
The focus for this grant award will center around a new “After Hours Market” and a revitalization of the UpBeat Summer Music Series, all happening on Thursday nights in the Cadillac Commons. The market will include a vendor area with artisan craft sellers, food trucks, desserts and other goods. The grant will help to increase the visibility of the evening as well as increase weeknight dining and beverage sales in Cadillac’s newly established Social District.
“We were very encouraged by the response to our first-ever downtown grant program because it reinforced the need across Michigan to support shopping local,” said William J. Hallan, President and CEO of Michigan Retailers Association. “We received many great proposals. In the end, we believe the ones provided by the communities of Ada, Cadillac, St. Johns, and Vassar demonstrated the most original ideas. Congratulations to our winners. We are excited to help these communities attract more visitors.”
As a part of the grant award, Nexstar Media is currently working alongside the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau on a marketing campaign for the Thursday night programming that will help to build exposure and drive a larger attendance downtown to the 10 week long music and market series.
2022 UpBeat Summer Music Schedule
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