Vital Information

MEETING MINUTES, IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS & DDA'S PLACE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

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MAIN STREET OAKLAND COUNTY

Highland was named a Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) community on September 21, 2005.  MSOC is an economic development program, specifically targeted to provide downtown management training and technical assistance to the 30 traditional downtowns in the County. Their mission is "to maximize the economic potential and to preserve the heritage and sense of place of Oakland County's historic commercial districts by encouraging and facilitating the use of the Main Street Four Point Approach which emphasizes economic development within the context of historic preservation." The National Trust Main Street Center offers a comprehensive commercial district revitalization strategy that has been widely successful in towns and cities nationwide.

We believe that the Main Street structure is worth adopting! The structure of the governing board (the HDDA) and four subcommittees not only divides the workload and clearly delineates responsibilities, but also builds consensus and cooperation among the various stakeholders. Coincidentally, the four points of the Main Street approach correspond with the four forces of real estate value, which are social, political, physical, and economic.

The HDDA Board is made up of residents, business owners & operators, township officials and staff.  Our HDDA Board meets once per month, on the second Wednesday at 6:15 p.m.

HDDA Board

Rick Hamill (Township Supervisor)
Roscoe Smith – HDDA Chairperson
Andy West – HDDA Vice-Chair
Christina Hamill – Treasurer
Cassie Blascyk
Taylor Dehaan
Dale Feigley
Jennifer Frederick
Daniel Walker
Christina Welsh

Melissa Dashevich – Executive Director
Cathy Tidertington - Assistant to Director & Special Events Coordinator
Taylor Dehaan– Recording Secretary

Contact Information:
Melissa K. Dashevich "Missy"
Highland DDA
205 W. Livingston Road
Highland, MI 48357

248  887 7200

HDDA Board Meeting Schedule

All Meetings are held at 6:15 p.m.

Location

Steeple Hall (Formerly Highland Station House)
205 W. Livingston Road, Highland, MI 48357

Meeting Dates

January 14, 2026

February 3, 2026 *10:45 a.m. MSOC Accredidation

February 11, 2026 (Joint meeting with Township Boards/Commissioners) at 7:30p.m. 205 N. John Street

March 11, 2026

April 8, 2026

May 13, 2026

June 10, 2026

July 8, 2026

August 12, 2026

September 9, 2026

October 14, 2026

November 4, 2026

December 9, 2026

Meeting Documents

Click on the arrow to find the year's and month's documents.

CURRENT DDA PROJECTS

Business Roundtable - March

Volunteer Appreciation Event - Spring

Ladies Day Out - April

Founder Day Parade and Festival - May

Window Restoration Workshop

Farmers Market- June thru October

C ART Outdoor Art Show 

Red White and Blues Festival - June

Sidewalk Sales and Sidewalk Chalk Contest- July

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series - July through August

Investigate and Apply for Movies in the Park-POP Grant- August

Enhancement and Maintenance of Landscaping- Adopt a Garden Program

Downtown Days Food Fest-September

Haunted Highland-October

Participate and Promote Small Business Saturday with Oakland County - November

Holiday Ladies Night Out - November

Festival of Trees- Month of December

Tree Lighting and Kris Kringle Market - December

Façade and Signage grants - Year Round

Rental Subsidy Grant - Year Round

Live Highland Shop Highland Campaign

Research and consider classes for businesses in the the district.

Partner with Oakland County for Business stabilization teams for small businesses.

Mural on Train Bridge-Research and Grant Writing

New Banners along South Milford Road

Construction of Highland Station Boardwalk Connectivity Project

COMPLETED DDA PROJECTS

2024

Business Roundtable -  February

Volunteer Open House - March

Spring Ladies Day Out - April

Founders Day Parade & Festival - May

Train Mural Project Research/Grant application

Mural Project implemented representing our history and military on township building in Veterans Park

Milford and Livingston Road Gardens- Adopt a Garden program with local volunteers including, maintenance and planting.

Highland Farmers' Market

DIA Inside Out Outdoor Art Exhibit Partnership

Red White and Blue Festival - July

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series (Partnered with the Highland Township Public Library to bring a classical concert to series)

Summer Side Walk Sales and Sidewalk Chalk Contest

Partnered with Oakland County for Shop Small Saturday, marketing, promoting & participation.

Holiday Ladies Night Out (Partnered with W.O.T.A. and the H.W.L.B.A)

Holiday Photo Spots around town

Tree Lighting and Kris Kringle Market

Festival of Trees

Downtown Days Food Fest - September

Haunted Highland-October

Partnered with Highland White Lake Business Association & Oakland Thrive for a Empowing Local Businesses Open House

Begin Design of a publication of a Services Guide

Highland Station Boardwalk Connectivity -Engineering Study and Investigation

 

FUTURE DDA PROJECTS

Continue ongoing projects

Murals and Art Installations

Streetscape Improvements

CONTRACTS

4 HDDA COMMITTEES

What does each committee do? Take a look at the annual work plans to find out. Each committee has its own work plan that helps the members stay focused and communicate its activities to the community.  All committees are looking for new members. Below are descriptions of each of the four committees.  If you are interested in this opportunity to participate in the creation of your community, please call the HDDA office at 248.887.7200 or send an email to [email protected].

 

Organization

This committee clarifies the mission, does strategic planning, defines goals & objectives and manages volunteer force.

Design

This committee identifies & defines architectural character, creates design standards and architectural guidelines, supports design, wayfinding & infrastructure improvement programs. Please call if you wish to attend this committee, meeting times vary.

Promotion

This committee prepares market analyses, manages public relations, creates a visual identity/logo, and builds advertising/media/publicity campaigns.

Economic Restructuring

This committee works to create a broad mix of retail, service and housing, strives for healthy competition among businesses, recruits businesses, identifies opportunities for rehabilitation and/or development.