DDA

The Village of Sparta Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was established by Village ordinance in 1992 under Michigan Public Act 197. The Sparta DDA is an organization dedicated to commercial district revitalization and improving the economic viability, beauty and historic significance of the DDA District.

The DDA works closely with the Sparta Chamber of Commerce for the sucess of Sparta. 

What is the DDA District?

The DDA District is a group of parcels that are connected by a right-of-way. This map shows how specific commercial parcels were included in the DDA District for development and improvement projects throughout the commercial districts in the Village. Although commercial properties now exist outside the DDA District, they are not part of the DDA District.  Most commercial properties outside the DDA are new growth and developments that have occurred after the formation of the DDA District.  Click here to view the Sparta DDA Parcel list.

How is the DDA funded?

The DDA district is funded by Tax Increment Financing. Properties that are within the DDA District and have increased in property value since the creation of the district are collected by the Downtown Development Authority. Those incremental tax dollars from the increased property values are re-invested in downtown to stimulate growth and higher property values in other parcels. The property values from each property when the district was created still are collected by the funding authorities.

The DDA meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:45 a.m. in the meeting room of Sparta Township Hall, located at 160 E. Division. The public is encouraged to attend. DDA board members volunteer their time to make educated decisions as stewards of the DDA District TIF dollars. DDA Board members are appointed to their positions by the Village President and approved by Village Council. Each DDA Board member must have a vested interest in the DDA District or a vested interest in the Sparta Area. 

DDA Tools:

2010 Property Enhancement Grant (Property must be on the parcel list to apply)

Available Liquor Licenses (Property must be on the parcel list to apply)

Sign Incentive Package 2010  (All Commercial Properties within the Village of Sparta are eligible to apply)

Property Owner Acknowledgement – Sign Incentive Application Attachment

2010 Downtown Furnishings Grant (All businesses in the Central Business District Zoning are eligible to apply)

Brownfield Redevelopment Programs

State of Michigan Public Act 381 of 1996, as amended (Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act), provides financial incentives through credits against the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) to assist in the clean-up and redevelopment of Brownfield sites within the state.  In accordance with the Act, the Village of Sparta has created an Authority for Brownfield Redevelopment. This board has established policies and regulations by which it may approve brownfield plans for qualified redevelopment sites with Brownfield MBT credits for up to 12.5% of the development investment. Brownfield plans must be approved by the Village of Sparta Council. The State of Michigan must approve any Brownfield tax credit requests.

Contact: Elizabeth Gorski-Morse, DDA Director

              DDA Director

              Phone:  616-887-8251

              E-mail:  ddadirector@spartami.org