The plan developed by the East Lansing-based firm Place and Main identified population decline as the number-one risk to the city’s future. Since 2000, the city has been on track to lose about 22% of its population — or 745 people — by 2024

“We who have lived here throughout that period of time, we can feel the difference,” McLennan said. “We can see the loss of businesses. We can see the tighter budgets that have to be implemented in the city, schools, and the lack of resources that are available.”

Rogers City is like other Northeast Michigan communities losing population since the 1970s as death rates exceed birth rates and too few people move into town to make up the difference.

But, also like other Northeast Michigan towns, Rogers City is working to bring that population back.

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Rogers City Mayor Scott McLennan talks in January at City Hall about how the city’s population has decreased over the past four decades.

Check out this video of Rogers City officials. Story continues below video.

Rogers City officials and residents are optimistic their downtown can be revitalized through the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Michigan Main Street program.

To be accepted into the state program, the Rogers City Downtown Development Authority has to commit to hiring a full-time main street manager who will work with the state’s economic development team and focus on marketing and redeveloping the city.

McLennan, the mayor, said the city has received about $37,000 in pledges from the community for the first year of the program, money that would offset the main street manager’s salary and office expenses. He said community members have also made multiple pledges for up to five years.

Kim Margherio, community events director for the Rogers City DDA, said the program would give small business owners access to experts in marketing, branding, and technology that could help them and the city thrive, and could draw new residents.

“Lets face it, the stronger your community is — who wouldn’t want to live there?” Margherio said.

The city already has some success stories to tell.

Woodland Confectionary is among several new businesses opening on Rogers City’s Main Street.

Owner Katherine Wilbur said that, although she had an eye on the storefront for some time, learning about the Michigan Main Street program helped her decide to start her business in Rogers City, instead of another location in the county.

Wilbur moved to Rogers City from Lansing three years ago after visiting some friends during the annual Nautical Festival.

“I think our downtown is a very attractive place for people to come and visit, and, now, we just need a little extra help putting a new coat of paint on our town, if you will,” she said.