See the details on Traverse City's new "Community Development Director."

    Over the last generation, many communities have been working to keep their downtown areas vibrant and viable.  In Traverse City that effort has paid off.  But now there is an effort to expand that focus beyond downtown. 

     Traverse City has created a new position; Community Development Director.

     What does the job entail and who's paying for it?

     The details are tonight's Fact Finder Report. 

     Traverse City has come a long way since the 1970's, when for more than a decade, businesses were moving out and no new buildings were going up

     Now Front Street is winning national awards and bucking trends. 

     Community Development Director Bryan Crough says, "Especially in the state of Michigan, everyone looks to Traverse City as a place that's still doing ok, even though the economy has been rough nationwide."

     And the success of downtown was not left up to chance with businesses and the city working together.  The Downtown Development Authority was founded nearly 30 years ago, for the last 19 years it has been headed by Bryan Crough. 

     But now he's moving beyond downtown into a newly created role: Community Development Director. 

     Crough says, "Really what I've been able to do is look at the whole community they way we've been looking at downtown."

     Crough is coordinating development efforts in other areas of Traverse City, like 8th Street, West Front Street, and the old Depot to name a few. And finding ways to better use land and give a positive boost to business. 

     The position was created based on the recommendations of market research.  And while many people easily support the idea of community development, even Crough admits, finding a way to pay for it in this economy is a little harder.

     Crough says, "We feel the work is valuable.  But we don't know the best way to fund it."

     For this year, Crough is on loan from the DDA and has not been replaced there.  But he says the DDA cannot fund the new position long term.  If the role proves to be a success, he says city leaders could look at creative ways to cover the cost, like grants. 

     But he admits it may be hard to accurately evaluate the position after the year is up.

     Crough says, "I hope expectations aren't too high.  I've worked exclusively downtown since 1990 and I can tell you nothing happens overnight."

     But he has high hopes for the long term. 

     Crough says, "I’m not going to be able to change much during this tenure, but I am hopeful we can begin to set an example of how community development city wide might be important to pay more attention to."

     So this new position is temporary, for now.  What do you think about it?  Is this something the city should invest in for the long term?  Leave your comments below. And since Crough is on loan from the DDA here is a link on our website to the DDA so you can read more about it, including its budget.