Downtown Economic Development Director

City of Howell; Howell (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Howell seeks an Executive Director to drive downtown revitalization as the chief executive of the Howell DDA. You will champion private investment, redevelopment, and strategic competitiveness while guiding program governance, budgeting, and grant strategies.

Collaboration with the City Manager, Main Street Inc., financial institutions, and regional partners is essential to advance growth and community outcomes. Flexibility for evening meetings and field work is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Economic Development, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or closely related.
• Minimum 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

Responsibilities

• Actively recruit new businesses, developers, and investors to fill storefront vacancies and diversify downtown retail/dining.
• Develop, monitor, and manage the annual DDA budget and ensure compliant use of TIF revenues.
• Prepare and present monthly financial, operational, and milestone reports to the DDA Board.
• Identify, write, and administer grants to leverage TIF dollars for capital improvements.
• Maintain records and ensure compliance with state transparency reporting and reporting requirements.
• Provide long-range forecasting of TIF revenues, fund balance, and capital commitments.
• Coordinate with Howell Main Street Inc. for measurable deliverables and reporting.
• Maintain the Howell Main Street master accreditation following the Four-Point Approach.

Skills

Self-Directed Leadership

Economic development

Financial acumen

Data-driven decision making

Communication Excellence

Relationship Builder

Technical Proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Economic Development, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or closely related

Tools

GIS

Canva

QuickBooks

CRM

Job description

City of Howell seeks an Executive Director to drive downtown revitalization as the chief executive of the Howell DDA. You will champion private investment, redevelopment, and strategic competitiveness while guiding program governance, budgeting, and grant strategies.

Collaboration with the City Manager, Main Street Inc., financial institutions, and regional partners is essential to advance growth and community outcomes. Flexibility for evening meetings and field work is expected.