For the fourth straight year, the Niles Downtown Development Association Main Street took home hardware from the Michigan Downtown Conference.

The Niles DDA’s Business Retention and Recruitment Program earned the Economic Restructuring Award at the September conference.

The program is designed to help businesses downtown during tough economic times.

“Our goal was to assist area businesses to grow their business, retain jobs and to hire additional people,” said Carri Harrington, the economic restructuring chairperson.

The program, which began in September of last year, also assists downtown businesses with the purchase of technology and offers a loan pool for financial assistance during the holidays or during a tough stretch financially.

One of the more exciting aspects of the Business Retention and Recruitment Program is the job creation portion, which awards funds to businesses who create full-time equivalent positions.

“That created seven jobs directly tied to the program,” Harrington said.

Harrington said the award is an honor for the committee’s hard work.

“It solidifies that the Mainstreet approach does work,” Harrington said. “When you work together like we do in Niles, the continuation of a program like this is a must.”

The Niles DDA was honored in 2009 for its promotion of the Hunter Ice Festival, while the design committee took home an award in 2008. The Niles DDA won Michigan Main Street Program of the Year in 2007.