August 18, 2004

Dr. William Anderson, director of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, today announced that Megan Melinat has been hired to fill the new position of Michigan Main Street (MMS) architect in the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

Melinat will provide design services to the seven Michigan Main Street communities - Boyne City, Calumet, Clare, Marshall, Muskegon, Niles and Portland - where property owners and the cities work to rehabilitate and revive their downtowns. The MMS architect position was created through a partnership of the SHPO, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).  The Michigan Main Street program is administered by the MEDC.

"Megan's knowledge and experience in historic preservation and building rehabilitation projects will be an asset to our department and will bring an additional level of expertise and services to the MMS communities," Anderson said.  "In addition, this new position represents the strong partnership between the SHPO, MEDC and MSHDA and their cooperative effort to assist communities throughout the state in their revitalization efforts."

"Michigan Main Street is quickly proving to be a dynamic program for revitalizing our downtowns," said Don Jakeway, MEDC president and CEO. "We look forward with great anticipation to the improvements we will soon be seeing all across our state."

Melinat has architecture degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Florida, as well as work experience with the National Park Service and private architecture firms.  She will educate the Main Street communities about good design and will provide architectural services to at least three property owners in each community each year for three years.  In addition, Melinat will bring her knowledge of state and federal financial incentives to the communities in an effort to assist them with financing building rehabilitation projects.

A powerful economic development tool, the Main Street program works with communities to revitalize their historic or traditional commercial areas. Founded in historic preservation, the Main Street approach was developed to save historic commercial architecture and the fabric of American communities' built environment, through a program of good design, economic restructuring, marketing and organization.

The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.  Dedicated to enriching the quality of life for Michigan residents by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the department also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Library of Michigan, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.