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Wayne DDA: The year 2021 in review



          By Sarah Shurge                                                                                         monthly  visits  to  different  busi-
             Many of the events you attended                                                                      nesses within the DDA District using
          and  enjoyed  in  Wayne  throughout                                                                     Facebook Live, and followed up with
          2021 could not have been possible                                                                       a  feature  story.  She  even  provided
          without the City of Wayne Downtown                                                                      gift  certificates  for  the  business  to
          Development  Authority  (DDA)  and                                                                      give to anyone who mentioned that
          you probably didn’t even know it.                                                                       they saw the feature story.
             The  DDA  has  many  purposes,                                                                          The DDA made a significant in-
          some of which are to correct and pre-                                                                   vestment  in  2021  to  promote  the
          vent  deterioration  of  business  dis-                                                                 Downtown  through  a  multi-media
          tricts, promote economic growth and                                                                     Holiday  campaign.  The  six  week
          revitalization, and to encourage his-                                                                   campaign includes commercials fea-
          toric  preservation.  The  goal  is  to                                                                 tured on both Wow and Xfinity, web
          bring business into the City of Wayne                                                                   ads, print ads, and a billboard en-
          and do it in a fun and exciting way  Members of the DDA and City Administration were excited to celebrate the opening  couraging individuals to “Experience
          for the public.                                                                                         Downtown Wayne.”
             The  DDA  has  partnered  with  of Klassy Kellection located at 34840 Michigan Ave. on June 15, 2021.    Something  you  have  to  experi-
          many  businesses  and  sponsored   Kubany,  many  new  activities  and  nity to win some exciting prizes.  ence  in  Downtown  Wayne  are  the
          many events for the City of Wayne.  events  were  added  throughout  the  During 2021, the DDA did a col-  Concerts  in  the  Goudy  Park.  The
          So with the start of a new year, it’s  Downtown that drew in a whole new  laboration with the Wayne Chamber  DDA sponsored a table at each con-
          time to bring their involvement into  potential customer base for our busi-  of Commerce and sponsored two Ca-  cert. They gave away a $50.00 dollar
          the spotlight and give them the recog-  ness.”                        reer Fairs held in the downtown that  gift  card  and  movie  passes  to  two
          nition they deserve.                  Another huge event the DDA was  were coordinated and presented by  lucky winners each week.
             “We have an excellent Board of Di-  involved  with  was  the  Downtown  the Chamber. These two events pro-  Gold  Boxes  also  popped  up
          rectors that has a desire to be cre-  Wayne “Makers Market” that opened  vided opportunities to the public to  around Downtown Wayne once again
          ative and think outside the box,” said  its doors for business on November  gain  employment  at  one  of  many  in 2021. Individuals who entered the
          Lori Gouin, DDA Director.          11th, 2021. The purpose of the Mar-  businesses in Wayne.            drawing had a chance to win $50.00
             The DDA Leadership Team con-    ket  is  to  support  small  business,  Another  event  the  DDA  spon-  dollars in gift cards for several differ-
          sists of: Chairman: David Steinhauer  while also providing a unique shop-  sored and produced was “Empower  ent local Wayne businesses.
          with  Professional  Insurance,  Vice-  ping experience that draws shoppers  Wayne.” Many individuals from the  In 2021, the DDA was able to cre-
          Chair: Jim Demmer with Jack Dem-   into the Downtown.                 business  community  gathered  for  ate a relationship with the Knights of
          mer Ford, and Secretary/Treasurer:   “The whole idea behind this was  the first-time networking event. The  Columbus  Notre  Dame  Council
          Scott  Gocaj  with  US-12  Bar  and  giving an opportunity for makers in  event provided local business own-  3021.  The  Knights  are  located  at
          Grill. The Board Members are: Vince  Wayne  to  grow  their  business.  We  ers  with  an  opportunity  to  get  to  Notre Dame Hall in Wayne and the
          Law  with  Law  Auto  Sales,  John  [the  DDA]  hope  they  can  make  know one another, share ideas, and  land adjacent to the Hall has become
          Rhaesa the City of Wayne Mayor, and  enough connections to create a cus-  business success stories.     an outdoor event space. The Knights
          Pier-La’Shaye Walker a City of Wayne  tomer-base and be able to open up  The City of Wayne welcomed 23  are responsible for programming the
          resident. The Administration is: Lori  their own business in the city,” said  new businesses in 2021: 24/7 Clean-  space and the DDA provides spon-
          B. Gouin the DDA Director and Lisa  Gouin.                            ing  Service,  Abe  Chahrour  Invest-  sorships for many of the events held
          Kubany  the  Director  of  Marketing  The  DDA  originally  planned  on  ments, Bewinked Salon,  Brookies  at the site.
          and Events.                        having only ten spots available for  Café,  Club  Flexx  LLC,  Comforting  The DDA also continues to collab-
             In  2021,  the  DDA  hired  Lisa  makers. However, due to popular de-  Care,  Fresh  Choice  (New  Owner),  orate with the Wayne Historical Soci-
          Kubany  to  serve  as  the  Marketing  mand, the Makers Market has 14 in-  Hair Café, Klassy Kellection, Lucky’s  ety  and  sponsored  the  annual
          and Events Director.               dividual makers.                   Gourmet Subs, Muffler Dave's (Ex-  Holiday Night at the Museum. On De-
             Kubany played a huge role in one  “The new Downtown Wayne Mak-     tension),  O  Holistic  LLC,  On  the  cember 4th, 2021, over 600 people
          of  the  annual  events  the  City  of  ers  Market  was  by  far  one  of  the  Spot CPR Training, Owens Automo-  gathered in Downtown Wayne to par-
          Wayne  always  looks  forward  to:  most  exciting  projects  I  have  ever  tive, Party with a Tee, Pizza Hut (New  ticipate in the event. This year, the
          Cruisin’ US12.                     worked on.  It has been a complete  location), Premium Holistic, Quality  event  was  much  more  than  just  a
             The 15th annual US12 car cruise  success,” said Gouin.             1  Auto  Sales,  Tri  County  Security  tree lighting and seeing Santa. There
          looked  a  little  different.  On  July  A  “Small  Business  Saturday”  Cameras,  Vonnies  World  Respite  was a parade, activities, prizes, food
          10th,  2021,  Pit  Stops  were  added  event was introduced and hosted by  Care,  Washington  Square  Retail,  trucks, performers, and more.
          throughout Downtown Wayne that in-  the DDA this year at the Makers Mar-  Wayne Beer and Wine, and Weddings  “The DDA was a proud sponsor
          cluded  food  trucks,  activities,  and  ket. The first 100 guests that came  by Lama.                  of  the 2021 Holiday Night at the Mu-
          entertainment. The DDA served as a  through the doors received a shop-  “It  is  very  encouraging  that  the  seum,” said Gouin.
          partner with the businesses to help  ping bag full of coupons and goodies.  number of new businesses locating  If you are interested in more in-
          with the organization of all the extra  Some of the bags had a $50.00 dol-  in the city has not declined despite  formation about the Makers Market
          activities.                        lar gift card added to them.       the current day challenges.  It just  (which runs through the end of Jan-
             “The 2021 US-12 Cruise was by      On the same day, the DDA also   shows that Wayne is a destination for  uary),  or  any  other  event  the  DDA
          far the biggest and best that I have  launched the “Passport Program” in-  many new start-up businesses,” said  has sponsored or hosted, please con-
          seen since I started in 2016,” said  tended to encourage individuals to  Gouin.                         tact Lori Gouin, City of Wayne DDA
          Gouin. “Thanks to our new Market-  visit local businesses, get their pass-  To  get  more  involved  with  the  Director,  at  (734)722-2002  or  by
          ing  and  Events  Director,  Lisa  port stamped, and have an opportu-  business  community,  Kubany  paid  email at lgouin@cityofwayne.com

          4 · January 2022 · The Wayne Dispatch
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