Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Council Approves DDA Appointment

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Council Approves DDA Appointment

Westland, MI (January 9, 2019) - On Monday, January 7 the Westland City Council approved Mayor Wild's appointment of Joni Thrower Davis to serve on Westland's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for a four-year term that will expire in 2023.

Thrower-Davis is the owner of the newly renovated McDonald's, located at 33921 Ford Rd. She also serves as General Counsel and Managing Partner for Jamjomar, Inc. She obtained a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from the University of Michigan as well as a Juris Doctorate from Emory University and is currently working on a Masters of Arts Degree from Ecumenical Theological Seminary. Joni was also recognized as one of Crain's Magazine's 40 Under 40 in 2018.

"Joni will be a great addition to the DDA," commented Mayor Wild. "Her experience as a business owner in Westland as well as her experience providing legal and management support to restaurants throughout Michigan will serve the board well as the City's Downtown Development District continues to grow and thrive."

The DDA is governed by an eleven (11) member board appointed by the Mayor and subject to the approval of City Council. Members are appointed to four (4) year terms. Members must reside, work or have ownership interest in property within the DDA District that includes all of Ford Road and Wayne Road south of Ford Road to Glenwood. The DDA promotes and facilitates plans that result in continued development, redevelopment, revitalization and/or reuse of properties within the DDA district boundaries. Regularly scheduled board meetings take place the 4th Thursday of every month at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall, 36300 Warren Rd and are open to the public.

If you are interested in serving on a Westland board or commission, you can find a complete list of vacancies, information, requirements and explanations on each and an application on www.cityofwestland.com by clicking on the "Get Involved" icon. Applications can be submitted electronically or paper applications can be printed from the website and dropped off at Westland City Hall.

For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

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 Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 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 School 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.

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.