New authority could replace Union Township’s two DDAs

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Consolidation of Union Township’s two Downtown Development Authorities is being considered by local government officials.

Township Supervisor John Barker presented his idea for a combined body to replace the DDAs at Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

“Union Township is of the size that we need to streamline many things,” Barker said.

DDAs construct partnerships between public and private entities to spur economic growth in an area.

Union’s east and west DDAs were the topic of another recent meeting, during which trustees considered putting both on the chopping block. Officials have been concerned with the method of funding for DDAs — capturing taxes.

But the township’s DDAs could be replaced by the Union Township Economic Development Authority, Barker said. The EDA would be responsible for the area within the previous DDAs, which will maintain separate budgets and activities, and also propose suggestions for the whole area of Union Township.

Getting rid of the DDAs could result in a lack of follow through on current projects, Treasurer Pam Stovak said. She has not heard any complaints about the DDAs except for an occasional lack of communication.

“Take the current DDAs and let them operate as they have for 20 years,” she said. “They can each then focus on their specific area and their specific needs.”

The EDA may overlap with the $10,000 contract Union Township already has with the Middle Michigan Development Corporation, Stovak said.

The MMDC would be working in central Michigan to retain and grow the jobs that are already here, MMDC President Brian Anderson said.

“It’s very hard to attract companies from out of the country or out of the state,” he said. “(We are) planting some nice roots and having that flourish into companies that create jobs.”

The MMDC brings a higher level of expertise than the EDA will, Barker said. And the MMDC is better connected for grant requests.

Even the MMDC may not be worth the investment, Trustee John Verwey said. Other investments in economic development groups have not worked well for the township.

“Now you’re saying we’re going to have another economic development group and I just wonder what it’s going to cost us and what we’re going to get?” Verwey said.

The board of the new EDA would be appointed by the current Board of Trustees. Barker recommended the appointment of several individuals, including Carol Churchill, president of Mid Michigan Community College, and Marty Figg, grounds and maintenance director at the Riverwood Resort.

No official decision was made Wednesday regarding the proposal.