Holly Council supports task force survey

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Ryan Bladzik

HOLLY, Michigan – When it comes to the Holly Area Economic Development Task Force market research survey, Ryan Bladzik still can’t hear the fat lady singing. In fact, Bladzik attended Tuesday’s Village Council meeting to remind council members that “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

Bladzik, a member of the EDTF, and owner/principal of Great Lakes Creative Marketing, volunteered his expertise last fall in creating a 37-question market research survey to be randomly distributed to 2,000 homes in the Holly Area Schools district.

On Tuesday, Bladzik and Janet Leslie, Holly Township trustee and chair for the EDTF listened as Holly’s Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors denied their request for $1,700 in postage funding for the survey.

“By now you know that the DDA decided last night not to contribute to the logistical cost of the market survey sponsored by the Holly Area EDTF,” Bladzik said. “As far as the task force is concerned, this decision has not stalled the project but has renewed our enthusiasm for finding creative ways to make the project a reality and to foster economic development in the Holly community.” While Bladzik was quick to say the EDTF wasn’t asking for a monetary contribution from the Village Council, he said his organization was seeking its vote of support.

Later in the meeting, council members gave a unanimous vote of support for ongoing efforts with the market research survey.

On Wednesday, Village President Pete Clemens said he was pleased that all council members seemed to be in agreement on the new draft of the survey, all giving their votes of support.

“I’ve told them before, if we don’t do the market research survey now, we’re going to be doing it a year or two down the road but paying $20,000 to do it,” Clemens said. “It’s a great opportunity for us complete a solid survey at a greatly reduced price.”

While prior work commitments prevented Clemens from attending Monday’s DDA Board of Directors meeting, like Bladzik, Clemens says it’s not over. “I plan on bringing it up at the next DDA meeting,” Clemens said. “I’m hoping to be able to talk about it again.”