Congratulations to Leadership Charlevoix County Class of 2018

A commencement ceremony was held in May at Boyne Mountain Resort for the Leadership Charlevoix County Class of 2018. Sixteen graduates received certificates and padfolios to mark their completion of the 10-month program. This is the seventh class to graduate from the program and there are now 108 LCC alumni.
The Class of 2018 partnered with Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council for their Community Service Project, called "Beetle Mania," which is helping to control the invasive species, Purple Loosestrife.
> Members of the Class of 2018 include:

• Brenda Bingham - The Insurance Shop
• Gretchen Bush - The Spa at Boyne Mountain
• Stephanie Butterboldt - EJ
• Robert Crick - City of East Jordan
• Syrina Dawson - Boyne City Police Department
• Alice Drogt - Landscape Logic
• David Florenski - East Jordan Public Schools
• Kelsie King-Duff - Boyne City Main Street
• Darrell Lawson
• Ryan Novotny - Charlevoix County Transit
• Jessica Puroll - Chemical Bank
• Andrea Seese - Grandvue Medical Care Facility
• Lori Taylor-Blitz - Beaver Island Historical Society
• Carly Thompson - Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce
• Josh Todd - Charlevoix Screen Masters
• Benjamin Way - EJ

> APPLICATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE for the Leadership Class of 2019 at www.leadershipcharlevoixcounty.com. The application deadline is July 3rd. If you know a future leader who would benefit from this program, please invite them to apply. For further information, visit the website or call Boyne Area Chamber Executive Director Ashley Cousens at 231-582-6222. Ashley graduated from the program in 2017.

Boyne City Main Street receives national accreditation

Boyne City Main Street has been designated as an accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its Coordinating Program partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs in recognition of their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.

   "We are thrilled to honor this year's 829 nationally accredited Main Street America programs for their commitment to preservation-based economic development and the revitalization of their commercial districts," says Patrice Frey, President & CEO of the National Main Street Center. "The power of Main Street shines across the country through these vibrant communities, who have all worked to generate impressive economic returns, preserve community character, and celebrate local history."

   Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. In 2017 alone, Main Street America programs generated $4.48 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,211 net new businesses, generated 30,294 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 8,737 historic buildings, and clocked 2.7 million volunteer hours.

   Boyne City Main Street's performance is annually evaluated by Michigan Main Street, which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, documenting programmatic progress, and actively preserving historic buildings. 

> For more information about Boyne City Main Street, visit www.boynecitymainstreet.com or contact Executive Director Kelsie King-Duff at 231-582-9009 or mainstreet@boynecity.com.