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DDA improvements seen throughout Frankenmuth

Weiss Street work connects to prime city district

  Signage improvements, new lighting and sidewalks on the south end of town, increases shuttle service and continued holiday lighting programs were all part of the past year for the Frankenmuth Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

  The 13-member DDA Board of Directors, chaired by Al Zehnder, chairman of Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, met often to make improvements to the City of Frankenmuth.

  The mission of the DDA is to strategically cultivate an environment that attracts and retains business investment, drives success, and fosters growth and prosperity in the community. The vision is a place where a legacy of Bavarian charm meets opportunity, and beauty inspires growth in its safe, vibrant, and family-friendly destination for guests and residents.

  Two major construction and infrastructure projects this past year included wayfinding signage improvements and the Jefferson Street lighting and sidewalk work.

  In 2023-24, the DDA contracted with Michael’s Signs of Racine, Wisconsin to install Phase 1 of the new wayfinding signs.

  “This investment of $150,000 introduced a distinct branding to the district,” DDA Executive Director Dan Hopp said.

  The DDA, with collaboration with the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, had Signs By Crannie install a new electric LED panel on two downtown kiosks.

  “These new panels attached to our new ones will allow for real-time updates of events happening in the city. This will allow for more current events than the typical annual static print materials on the kiosks,” Hopp noted.

  Working closely with the Chamber and CVB, and with discussions with the Historic District, this project came to fruition thanks to a state grant. The DDA investment in the district was $80,000 for this project.

  Jefferson Street has a fresh look, with the DDA going through a bidding process in January 2025 to contract Bierlein-Trombley Electric (BTE), and Helm Electric/Rohde Excavating to bury all overhead utilities, install a new electrical system with 32 new street light poles (matching the downtown street light design), and widening the sidewalks from 4-1/2 feet to six feet.

  “With engineering from Spicer Group, this project has gone very smoothly and by this month (December) it was completed, including new street trees and regraded right-of-way for the whole stretch of East Jefferson Street, between South Main and Weiss streets,” Hopp explained. “The intent of this project was to create a safer and more well-lit corridor between M-83 and Weiss Street.

  The light poles compliment the poles within the DDA district and complete linkage for pedestrians walking between these districts and increase vehicular visibility on this short stretch.

  𠇋y adding 32 poles, more streetscape items could be added in the future, including hanging flower baskets, Christmas decorations, and banners. This will create a more inviting environment to do business, recreationally walk and connect the two districts within the city,” Hopp said.

  This project has visually transformed this section of the city while burying utility lines for better reliability. The DDA investment on Weiss Street was $1,300,000.

  The Frankenmuth Shuttle returned this summer, July 1, and will run until the end of December – a 27-week-long program......

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