NILES — Two decades ago, Lisa Croteau said Niles was left without the industries that defined it. In the 20 years since, the city has been figuring out what comes next.

With the collaboration between Niles DDA Main Street, which Croteau directs, and Michigan Main Street, a Michigan Economic Development Corporation program, the city now has a great sense of what it is.

Niles DDA and Michigan Main Street — two downtown district-building entities — celebrated 15 years of partnership Thursday at the Grand LV’s Kull Memorial Stateroom to an audience of 30 business owners, community leaders and their family members.

Niles’ downtown development authority creates redevelopment plans for the district, working with businesses and entrepreneurs. Michigan Main Street and its parent, the MEDC, provide the support, resources and training for redevelopment.

Since their partnership, 107 façade improvements, 124 new businesses, 55,000 volunteer service hours and $10.9 million in private investment have happened in the Niles downtown district. According to the organizations, these have had about a $25 million economic impact.

At the anniversary event, Daniel Carrick, staff for State Sen. Kim LaSata, said he has never been to Niles as much as he has recently during his time working for the legislature.

He said he is seeing a different trend among Michiana residents due to the changes in Niles.

“We’re seeing people now saying, ‘Ugh. Indiana? I want to move back to Niles,’” Carrick said. “It’s amazing, and we love it.”

Niles Mayor Nick Shelton said he has seen the changes personally, too.

“Now more than ever, the fruits of our labor are evident,” he said. “You don’t need to go far to see the impact of this collaboration. The Grand LV, the building we are standing and sitting here now, is a product of this partnership.”

Two years ago, the space the Grand LV owns was a dilapidated Elks Lodge. Now, it houses the business’ event spaces and Gabrizio Italian Bakery and Café.

Gabrizio directly benefited from a Niles DDA–Michigan Main Street partnership. Through the entities, Niles became one of nine Michigan communities to have some of its businesses receive Match on Main grant funding. The city was one of two to pilot the program.

Gabrizio and upcoming fitness center Traphouse 24 each received $30,000 grants to help offset startup costs. The upcoming Niles Brewing Company received a $25,000 grant.

“Whenever you have a new business that you’re opening up, any help that the city or state can provide, it ultimately helps you be successful, especially in the beginning,” said Brandon Townsley, the brewery’s owner. “If anything, it’s a bit of a stress reliever.”

Townsley said he is excited to open his business at 206 E. Main. He was born and raised in Niles, and although he has traveled around, he said it made him realize that Niles is on track to offer everything that a much larger city does.

Two of the three Match on Main grants are for restaurants and the third is for an exercise business. That is for good reason, Croteau said.

In 2017, a study conducted by Main Street America and Michigan Main Street determined that Niles residents most wanted, and that their downtown could best sustain, sports, the arts, and especially, food.

Now, a plethora of local fitness, arts and food businesses are moving in, from Traphouse 24 to Casperson’s Books and Art to Gabrizio.

“In that way, it’s kind of turning the clock back to the way towns started with wonderful entrepreneurs seeing a need in a community and filling it,” Croteau said.

Two decades ago, Croteau said the downtown district had three restaurants as its go-to food options. On Thursday, she counted upwards of 18 food-related businesses in the district that people from the Michiana area are driving to.

The food, art and fitness initiative will be a three to five-year strategic plan, and with it comes a rebranded Niles DDA. Its tagline is “Real. Local. Flavor.”

“My hope has always been that anybody from the past 150 years of Niles could travel and hop onto Main Street and be proud of what they see,” Croteau said.

People today are, she added.