In PersonFrequent evening board meetings and weekend community work; in-person visits with downtown business and property owners.
Business & Strategy
About the job
Requirements
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Economic Development, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or a closely related field is preferred.
A minimum of 3–5 years of leadership experience in downtown management, economic development, Main Street programs, or nonprofit work is preferred.
A Certified Main Street Manager credential or Michigan Certified Economic Developer credential is preferred.
Ability to manage multiple projects, set strategic goals, and execute them with minimal daily oversight.
Knowledge of redevelopment, development economics, business attraction and retention, incentives, real estate, tax increment financing, municipal finance, grants, and capital improvement.
Ability to use market information, financial analysis, project tracking, and performance measures to guide recommendations and resource allocation.
Public speaking, written communication, and interpersonal skills for engaging business owners, elected officials, city staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
A proven track record of managing a diverse board of directors, uniting stakeholder groups, and motivating volunteers.
Familiarity with Geographic Information System mapping, graphic design tools such as Canva, social media marketing, and standard office and financial software such as QuickBooks.
Willingness to work flexible hours, including frequent evening board meetings and weekend community work.
Ability to perform occasional outdoor work and tolerate wet or humid conditions and airborne exposure.
Ability to perform the listed physical duties, including talking or hearing, sitting, handling or operating objects and controls, reaching, occasionally standing, and occasionally lifting or moving up to 25 pounds.
Close, distance, peripheral, and depth vision, and ability to adjust vision.
Successful completion of a background check and drug screening is required; job-related skill assessments may also be required.
Responsibilities
Serve as the primary economic driver, advocate, and visionary for Downtown Howell.
Function as Chief Executive Officer of the Howell Downtown Development Authority and provide strategic oversight of Howell Main Street Inc.
Advance the long-term economic strength, private investment, redevelopment, business growth, and strategic competitiveness of Downtown Howell.
Work collaboratively with the City of Howell, Howell Main Street Inc., business and property owners, financial institutions, regional and state economic development partners, and other community stakeholders.
Recruit new businesses, developers, and investors to fill storefront vacancies and diversify downtown retail and dining.
Maintain inventories of storefront vacancies, available commercial properties, business openings and closures, and expansions.
Serve as the primary liaison and advocate for existing downtown business and property owners, connecting them to resources, grants, and city services.
Use data-driven market analysis to identify economic gaps and develop targeted business retention and expansion efforts.
Collaborate with the City Manager, Planning Commission, and local economic groups to streamline development and zoning pipelines.
Track business, property-owner, developer, and investor relationships through a professional contact management or customer relationship management system.
Develop, monitor, and manage the annual Downtown Development Authority budget, ensuring compliant use of Tax Increment Financing revenues under Michigan Public Act 57.
Prepare and present monthly financial, operational, and milestone reports to the Downtown Development Authority Board.
Identify, write, and administer federal, state, and private grants to leverage Tax Increment Financing dollars for capital improvements.
Maintain comprehensive records and ensure compliance with state-mandated Downtown Development Authority transparency reporting.
Forecast Tax Increment Financing revenues, fund balance, capital commitments, and future investment over the long term.
Serve as the Downtown Development Authority’s principal liaison to Howell Main Street Inc., including oversight of measurable deliverables, performance indicators, and reporting.
Maintain Howell Main Street’s master-level accreditation by following the National Main Street Four-Point Approach: Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Vitality.
Develop and maintain a Downtown Economic Dashboard as a standing responsibility and present it regularly to the Downtown Development Authority.
Track storefront vacancy, business openings and closures, private investment, grants secured, Tax Increment Financing trends, residential units, property-owner outreach, and developer and investor activity.
Use measurable outcomes to identify trends, evaluate programs, recommend resource allocation, and communicate the Downtown Development Authority’s impact.
Establish annual performance targets with the Downtown Development Authority Board and report progress regularly.
Participate in regular municipal staff meetings to align downtown initiatives with City Public Services, Planning, and Police.
Maintain bi-weekly communication meetings with the City Manager to support operational transparency and collaborative problem-solving.
During the first 30 days, meet individually with the City Manager, Mayor, all Downtown Development Authority Board members, Howell Main Street President, and key city department heads; visit at least 20 core downtown business and property owners; and review active Tax Increment Financing budgets, Public Act 57 compliance records, and Main Street financial accounts.
During the first 60 days, establish recurring bi-weekly operational meetings with the City Manager and integrated project tracking with city staff; attend a Howell Main Street 501(c)(3) board meeting and help audit organizational needs; and present an inventory of downtown storefront vacancies and active development projects to the Downtown Development Authority.
During the first 90 days, deliver a data-driven Downtown Status Dashboard tracking vacancy rates, foot traffic, and Tax Increment Financing fund forecasting to the Downtown Development Authority Board and City; launch a business retention initiative or targeted recruitment outreach campaign based on the vacancy inventory; and present a 12-month business recruitment, retention, and redevelopment strategy with priority business targets and development projects.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Executive Director serves as the primary economic driver, advocate, and visionary for Downtown Howell. This position functions as the Chief Executive Officer of the Howell DDA (a public authority) and provides strategic oversight of the Howell Main Street Inc. (a 501(c)(3). The Director is responsible for advancing the long-term economic strength, private investment, redevelopment, business growth, and strategic competitiveness of Downtown Howell.
The Director works collaboratively with the City of Howell, Howell Main Street Inc., business and property owners, financial institutions, regional and state economic development partners, and other community stakeholders.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Economic Development & Business Attraction
Actively recruit new businesses, developers, and investors to fill storefront vacancies and diversify the downtown retail/dining
Maintain current inventories of storefront vacancies, available commercial properties, business openings and closures, and expansion
Serve as the primary liaison and advocate for existing downtown business and property owners, connecting them to resources, grants, and city
Utilize data-driven market analysis to identify economic gaps and develop targeted retention and expansion
Collaborate with the City Manager, Planning Commission, and local economic groups to streamline development and zoning pipelines.
Track business, property-owner, developer, and investor relationships through a professional contact management or CRM
2. Financial Management & DDA Governance
Develop, monitor, and manage the annual DDA budget, ensuring compliant use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues under Michigan PA 57 of
Prepare and present monthly financial, operational, and milestone reports to the DDA Board of
Identify, write, and administer federal, state, and private grants to leverage TIF dollars for capital improvement
Maintain comprehensive records and ensure compliance with all state-mandated DDA transparency reporting
Provide long-range forecasting of TIF revenues, fund balance, capital commitments, and future investment
Serve as the DDA's principal liaison to Howell Main Street Inc., including its measurable deliverables, performance indicators, and reporting
Maintain the Howell Main Street’s master level accreditation, following the National Main Street "Four-Point Approach" (Organization, Promotion, Design, Economic Vitality).
3. Data, Market & Performance Measurements
Develop and maintain a Downtown Economic Dashboard as a standing responsibility, presented regularly to the DDA
Track measures such as storefront vacancy, business openings and closures, private investment, grants secured, TIF trends, residential units, property-owner outreach, and developer and investor
Use measurable outcomes to identify trends, evaluate programs, recommend resource allocation, and communicate the DDA's impact to the
Establish annual performance targets with the DDA Board and report progress against those targets on a regular
4. Administrative Collaboration
Participate in regular municipal staff meetings to align downtown initiatives with City Public Services, Planning, and Police
Maintain bi-weekly communication syncs with the City Manager to ensure operational transparency and collaborative problem-solving.
IDEAL CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience Preferred:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Economic Development, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or a closely related
Minimum of 3–5 years of leadership experience in downtown management, economic development, Main Street programs, or non-profit
Certified Main Street Manager (CMSM) credential or Michigan Certified Economic Developer
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Proven Self-Directed Leadership: Must be a highly motivated self-starter capable of managing multiple projects, setting strategic goals, and executing them with minimal daily
Economic development and financial acumen. Strong understanding of redevelopment, development economics, business attraction and retention, incentives, real estate, TIF, municipal finance, grants, and capital
Data-informed decision making. Ability to use market information, financial analysis, project tracking, and performance measures to guide recommendations and resource allocation.
Communication Excellence: Exceptional public speaking, written communication, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage business owners, elected officials, city staff, volunteers, and the
Relationship Builder: Proven track record of managing a diverse board of directors, uniting fragmented stakeholder groups, and motivating volunteer
Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with Geographic Information System mapping, graphic design tools (e.g., Canva), social media marketing, and standard office/financial software.(QuickBooks)
WORKING CONDITIONS
Must be willing to work flexible hours, including frequent evening board meetings and weekend community
While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions or airborne
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office and moderate in the field.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear; sit; use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand or the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust
SELECTION GUIDELINES
The selection process includes a formal application review, an evaluation of education and experience, an oral interview, and reference checks. Candidates may also be required to complete job-related skill assessments. Final selection is contingent on successfully completing a background check and drug screening.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and may change as the employer's needs and job requirements evolve.
FIRST 90-DAY PERFORMANCE MILESTONES
To ensure the director is an accountable, self-directed leader, the following benchmarks should be met during the initial 90-day onboarding period:
Day 30: Discovery & Relationship Building:
Conduct one-on-one introduction meetings with the City Manager, Mayor, all DDA Board Members, Howell Mian Street President, and key city department heads (Planning, Public Services, Police).
In-person visits completed with at least 20 core downtown business and property owners to assess immediate needs and
Review all active TIF budgets, PA 57 compliance records, and Main Street financial accounts to establish a
Day 60: Alignment & Process Integration:
Establish a recurring, bi-weekly operational sync meeting with the City Manager and integrated project tracking with city
Attend Main Street 501(c)(3) board meeting and help audit organizational needs moving
Present a comprehensive inventory of current downtown storefront vacancies and active development projects to the DDA
Day 90: Strategic Execution & Reporting:
Deliver a data-driven "Downtown Status Dashboard" tracking vacancy rates, foot traffic, and TIF fund forecasting to the DDA Board and City
Launch at least one business retention initiative or target recruitment outreach campaign based on the 60-day vacancy
Present a 12-month business recruitment, retention, and redevelopment strategy, including priority business targets and priority development