Pontiac Times

• Donations may be made online, by mail, or in person.
• Campaign will fund a variety of restoration projects including repair and restoration of infrastructure, public art, street and sidewalk paving, and flowers and trees.
• Oakland County also lending assistance through other county programs such as Oakland County Michigan Works!

Pontiac, Michigan – Main Street Oakland County and Main Street Holly, an arm of the Holly Downtown Development Authority (DDA), have launched a crowdfunding campaign to help rebuild the historic Battle Alley section of the city following the six-alarm fire on June 21 that destroyed or badly damaged several businesses and buildings.

To give offline by cash or check, please make the check payable to Main Street Holly and mail or deliver the donation to Main Street Holly, at 300 East St., Holly, Mich. 48442. To donate online, go to: Patronicity.com/HeartOfHolly.

"Oakland County will continue to support Holly leaders, business owners, and residents as they recover from the damage caused by the fire," Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. "We're committed to ensuring that this historic jewel is restored and rebuilt."

The crowdfunding campaign will subsidize a variety of projects, including facade grants to offset the costs and repairs to the surviving historic buildings; matching funds for grant applications for the long-term repair and restoration of infrastructure; street and sidewalk paving; building grants for new construction; and small business grants for those impacted by the fire.  Plus, the restoration will require the hiring of design professionals and replacement of community items such as public art, pedestrian furniture, flower containers, trees, and trash receptacles.

"We are very fortunate to have a partnership with Main Street Oakland County," said Nick Klempp, executive director of the Holly DDA. "Their team quickly provided contacts to meet with Workforce Development and Michigan's Small Business Development Center to help our small business owners and employees impacted by the fire.

"We greatly appreciate all the support we have already received from area churches, chambers, businesses and other organizations, including fellow DDA's," Klempp added. "Insurance will not cover everything, and a team of architects and engineers are already at work evaluating needs and repairs."

Main Street Holly is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which is able to collect these tax-deductible donations and distribute the funds. For more information or questions, contact Klempp, at 248-634-9571 or nklempp@hollyvillage.org.

Original source can be found here.