For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE 
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
 
36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185
Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland City Council Confirms Re-Appointment to DDA


Westland, MI -  On Monday, August 7 at the Westland City Council meeting, the council approved the reappointment of Mo Elfakir by Mayor William R. Wild to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA).  

The DDA is governed by an eleven (11) member board appointed by the Mayor and subject to the approval of the City Council. The Downtown Development Authority implements an improvement and business development plan in a commercial district along Ford Road and Wayne Road south of Ford and they help firms by providing design assistance for redevelopment of commercial properties. Regularly scheduled board meetings take place the 4th Thursday of every month at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall, located at 36300 Warren Rd and are open to the public.   

Mo Elfakir is the owner of Biggby Coffee, located at 36640 Ford Rd.  He has been a Westland business owner for 10 years and is actively involved in a number of community events.  Elfakir has served on the DDA board since 2013 and his new term will expire in 2021.  

"By taking one step inside Biggby in Westland, it is clear how much Mo cares about Westland and has made Biggby Coffee a staple in our community," commented Mayor Wild.  "His unique perspective as a business owner has been a tremendous asset to the DDA Board."  

For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at
734-467-3200
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Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City.  Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas.  The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

 
In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities.  Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Western Wayne Fire Association firefighters collaboratively serving the Cities of Wayne and Westland are licensed paramedics who responded to over 13,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based.  They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

 
Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

 
Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more.  One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

 
The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best Schools in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.  Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

 
Westland's philosophy is that government should embrace good business principles.  Providing oversight over the City's operating budget of $60 million dollars, Westland is the only community in Wayne County with a 3-year balanced budget and an approximately 10 percent budget surplus.

 
The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region.  Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.

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