Holt residents enjoy thriving local businesses, beautiful parks, and vibrant community events that make Delhi Township a special place to live. Behind many of these amenities is the Delhi Downtown Development Authority (DDA), an organization dedicated to enhancing community life by supporting projects that bring neighbors and economic development together and improve the township for everyone.
A Downtown Development Authority is a special government entity designed to revitalize and enhance communities through strategic partnerships and targeted investments. Created under Michigan Public Act 57, DDAs operate as independent authorities with the power to coordinate resources between public and private sectors, creating opportunities that neither could achieve alone.
The foundation of a DDA’s work lies in tax increment financing—a tool that captures the increased property tax revenue generated by improvements and reinvests it back into the community. As businesses grow and property values increase, due to DDA investments, the additional tax revenue funds future projects and create a sustainable cycle of community enhancement.
For smaller communities like Holt, this coordinated approach is essential. Individual businesses might want to improve their storefronts, residents might desire better parks, and local organizations might need meeting spaces, but coordinating these efforts and securing funding can be challenging. The DDA serves as the central hub that brings these various interests together, pools resources, and makes larger-scale improvements possible.
Rather than relying on piecemeal improvements, the DDA enables comprehensive planning that considers how different projects can work together to create a more cohesive, attractive community.
For Delhi Township residents, this means enjoying amenities like the Holt Farmers’ Market, the Sam Corey Senior Center serving over 150 seniors weekly, Veteran’s Memorial Park, and many more local treasures. These projects represent more than individual improvements—they’re part of a big-picture effort to maintain Delhi Township’s small-town character while ensuring residents have access to the services and business that make a community prosper together.
The DDA’s work ultimately represents an investment in the community’s future, ensuring that Delhi Township continues to be a place where families want to live, businesses want to operate, and neighbors can come together.