News File Photo Rogers City Mayor Scott McLennan talks in January at City Hall in this News file photo.

ROGERS CITY — Rogers City’s effort to become a Michigan Main Street community has entered its home stretch and the next month will be critical in determining whether the city gets the designation from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Rogers City is competing with Coldwater, Dearborn, and Ferndale for one or possibly two Main Street designations, which guarantee state help with economic development.

The MEDC has thus far designated 24 municipalities as Main Street communities.

The program provides technical assistance that helps a community build partnerships and encourages historic preservation, according to the MEDC. It promotes environmentally sustainable redevelopment, integrates a community’s cultural assets, and fosters entrepreneurial development and downtown living.

On Monday, representatives from the MEDC Main Street program will visit Rogers City and go over the city’s application, Rogers City Mayor Scott McLennan said at the city’s Downtown Development Authority meeting Wednesday.

The MEDC will make recommendations on what to change or add to the application and then get a tour of the city.

The city then must submit an amended application and a promotional video to the MEDC by Sept. 22.

“That will be a very big day for us,” McLennan said. “We need to do the best we can to welcome them, because they will be evaluating us.”

The biggest day of all will happen on either Oct. 5 or 6, when city officials will appear virtually to present their case to the MEDC and answer any questions state officials may have.

McLennan said the MEDC could make a decision shortly after the October presentations.

McLennan said city officials will keep the professionally shot promotional video under wraps until after the final presentation to the MEDC. Then the city will release the video to the public.

“We will proudly share it with the public afterward, and I think people will be very surprised how well it turned out,” he said. “It will also be a very good tool for the promotion for the city or Rogers City, there is no doubt about that.”

Earlier this year, the MEDC formally recognized Rogers City as the 50th Certified Redevelopment Ready Community in Michigan. Rogers City joins communities in all corners of the state that have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to planning and zoning to remove traditional barriers to development and promote opportunities for prospective investors.