Howell Main Street Inc.

What Howell Main Street Inc. does

Howell Main Street Inc. is a volunteer-led 501(c) non-profit organization dedicated to downtown revitalization in Howell, Michigan. It operates a nationally accredited Main Street program under the Main Street America / National Trust for Historic Preservation framework and uses the canonical Four-Point Approach across four standing committees (Design, Economic Vitality, Organization, and Promotions) to coordinate preservation, business development, and event programming in the downtown National Registered Historic District.

The organization supports approximately 191 directory businesses and the surrounding property owner and entrepreneur ecosystem through grant-based incentive programs (Sign Incentive reimbursing 25% of approved costs up to $1,000, and Façade Incentive reimbursing 50% up to $10,000 front/$5,000 rear/$2,500 side), technical assistance tied to Michigan SHPO and National Park Service guidance, year-round community events (Food Truck Tuesdays, Rock the Block, Art in the Garden, Food Truck Rally, Howell Melon Festival), a Downtown Dollars gift card program via Yiftee, and a downtown job posting platform. It is governed by a board led by President Kim Schafer and operated by C.O.O. Lexie Wilcox alongside an Outreach Coordinator and Administrative & Volunteer Support Coordinator.

Howell Main Street funds its activities through tax-deductible donations and fundraising, customized event sponsorships from local businesses, Friends of Howell VIP memberships, and a $250 non-refundable façade application fee. It has no disclosed revenue, operates with 1-10 staff, and is currently executing the Fire & Ice District public space project in partnership with the City of Howell. Recent milestones include the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best #1 Best Main Street designation (improving on a 2016 2nd-place finish) and a 2024 AIA Huron Valley Honor Award for the Commiskey Building façade restoration.

Name

Howell Main Street Inc.

Legal name

Howell Main Street Inc.

Website

https://downtownhowell.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Howell Main Street Inc. is a volunteer-led non-profit that runs a nationally accredited Main Street program to revitalize downtown Howell, Michigan through historic preservation, business incentive grants, year-round events, and partnerships with local businesses, property owners, and the City of Howell.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Howell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from community members and supporters to fund downtown beautification, events, historic preservation, and community programming. Donations are invested back into downtown initiatives.
2. Event Sponsorships: Local businesses sponsor events such as Food Truck Tuesdays, Rock the Block, Art in the Garden, and Food Truck Rally. Sponsorships are customized to fit each sponsor's goals and budget, providing visibility to the community.
3. Friends of Howell Program: VIP Friends program featuring individual and business supporters recognized on the organization's website.
4. Facade and Sign Incentive Program Fees: A $250 non-refundable application fee for the Façade Incentive Program, which provides grants for building improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Howell Main Street Inc. is a volunteer-led 501(c) nonprofit that drives downtown revitalization in Howell, Michigan using the Main Street Four-Point Approach (Design, Economic Vitality, Organization, Promotions). It administers facade and sign incentive grant programs for property owners, produces year-round community events and promotions, operates a downtown business directory and job posting platform, and provides business development resources and technical assistance to local entrepreneurs and merchants.

Product overview

Howell Main Street Inc. is a non-profit downtown revitalization organization, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of community development programs and services: a business directory platform for downtown discovery, business development resources including incentive grant programs (Sign Incentive at 25% up to $1,000 and Façade Incentive at 50% up to $10,000), year-round community event programming (Food Truck Tuesdays, Rock the Block, Art in the Garden, Food Truck Rally), design and economic vitality committee services for historic preservation and business support, a Downtown Dollars gift card program via Yiftee, and a job posting platform for local businesses. These are organizational programs, not software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Downtown Howell Business Directory

Quantifiable outcome

• Downtown Howell voted #1 Best Main Street in the US (USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice 2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• National Trust for Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the Main Street America program which Howell Main Street is part of. Provides the Four-Point Approach methodology for downtown revitalization that the organization uses as its operational framework.
• Michigan Main Street CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates the Nationally Accredited Main Street program in Michigan. Provides accreditation, resources, and support for Howell Main Street's revitalization efforts.
• Main Street AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides the E3 (Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem) framework through which Howell Main Street supports existing businesses, guides new ones, and strengthens resources for entrepreneurs.
• Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)majorTechnology or IntegrationState agency promoting and protecting Michigan's historic places. Offers technical guidance, tax credit programs for rehabilitating historic buildings, and resources for property owners.
• Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN)majorTechnology or IntegrationStatewide nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic buildings. Offers workshops, conferences, technical support, and maintains the Historic Resources Council Directory of craftspeople and contractors.
• The McFate Group, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture and historic preservation firm that completed the facade restoration of the Commiskey Building (1889). Received Honor Award from AIA Huron Valley for the work.
• National Park ServicemajorTechnology or IntegrationProvides Preservation Briefs - technical guidance documents for historic building care including masonry cleaning, repointing, window repair, storefront rehabilitation, and signage.
• Event SponsorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses sponsor Howell Main Street events including Food Truck Tuesdays, Rock the Block, Art in the Garden, and Food Truck Rally. Sponsorship arrangements are customized to each business.
• Howell Chamber of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizes the weekly Howell Sunday Farmers' Market. Both organizations work together to support downtown economic activity and community engagement.
• City of HowellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City acquired the Howell Theatre in 1999 and partnered with developers for restoration. Also involved in the Fire & Ice District development project for public space enhancement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Main Street America: The national Main Street program coordinator that Howell Main Street participates in as an accredited member. Both organizations operate the same Four-Point Approach (Design, Economic Vitality, Organization, Promotions) for downtown revitalization, making Main Street America the most directly comparable peer.
• Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership: A downtown revitalization nonprofit focused on economic development, public space activation, and stakeholder engagement in Pittsburgh's urban core. Directly comparable to Howell Main Street in mission (downtown economic vitality) and nonprofit structure, though at significantly larger scale.
• Howell Area Chamber of Commerce: The local chamber of commerce that co-organizes the Howell Sunday Farmers' Market with Howell Main Street. Comparable in mission as a small local business support and community engagement nonprofit serving the same geography and overlapping member base.
• Michigan Main Street Center: The state-level Main Street coordinator, part of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, that accredits and supports Howell Main Street. Operates in the same geographic and programmatic space, providing identical downtown revitalization methodology and accreditation to local Main Street programs across Michigan.
• Local First: A nonprofit movement with chapters across the US that advocates for supporting local independent businesses and building strong local supply chains. Shares Howell Main Street's mission of strengthening downtown retailers and the local economy against chain and e-commerce competition.
• Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. A Michigan-based downtown revitalization nonprofit pursuing economic vitality, placemaking, and historic district enhancement in Grand Rapids. Operates a comparable nonprofit model with similar event programming, business support, and public-private partnerships at a larger scale.

Others

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The national organization that created the Main Street program and methodology Howell Main Street uses. While broader in scope (focused on all historic preservation nationally), they are the originating methodology and resource partner — adjacent rather than competing, but central to Howell Main Street's programmatic framework.
• Michigan Historic Preservation Network: A statewide nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic buildings and supporting preservation professionals across Michigan. Howell Main Street relies on MHPN for technical support, contractor referrals via the Historic Resources Council Directory, and shared historic preservation advocacy.
• AIA Huron Valley: The regional chapter of the American Institute of Architects serving southeast Michigan; a partner on the award-winning Commiskey Building facade restoration. Adjacent to Howell Main Street through shared historic preservation work, but not a competing peer.

Broad incumbents

• Downtown Detroit Partnership: A larger, established Michigan-based downtown revitalization organization with a broader portfolio spanning economic development, mobility, and public space. Operates a similar mission to Howell Main Street but serves a much larger and more complex downtown ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HowellDowntown
• Instagraminstagram.com/howelldowntown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/howell-main-street-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Howell Main Street Inc.