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"My dream for the DDA is to have a grand visioning for downtown Kalkaska,"Farrier said last week. "I'd like to bring the community in, to give them a voice and to have them help." The DDA is seeking volunteers to fill two seats on its board of directors, as well as a dozen people to volunteer on committees.

"The projects committee will be setting meetings this summer,"Farrier said. "It's not necessary that all (DDA) members have a direct interest in downtown."

As The Leader went to print on Tuesday, the DDA and the Village of Kalkaska were meeting to set up separate accounts.

Kalkaska has four Tax Incremented Finance districts. Farrier said he would like to see a committee for each of the four TIFs.

According to Farrier, at the time a TIF is created by a municipality, it puts a lid on the tax value. The TIF captures the increase in value from that date.

"It turns the wheel,"he said. "The downtown TIF is bonded out until (the year) 2011. It has gone to pay for past improvements. The good news is that the funds will have an account.

"We've got to be creative. There's zero budget for the downtown block."

The village recently approved a resolution to authorize and support participation in the Cool Cities Michigan Main Street Program.

The program was established to assist municipalities in developing a public-private effort to revitalize urban neighborhood and traditional central business districts.

The resolution reflects that the DDA has determined a need to identify and pursue technical assistance and economic development resources to positively benefit Kalkaska's downtown.

"We will be exposed to new programs, through Cool Cities,"Farrier said. "It will be an opportunity to look into new projects."

Farrier said he is interested in doing something with the former STOCK lumber yard.

"I've been told that it used to be a park,"he said.

The other two buildings Farrier said he is concerned about are the old Hotel Sieting and the old Village of Kalkaska garage.

Those interested in serving either on the board or volunteering for a committee should call Farrier at 231-258-8162.