Southfield City Council unanimously approved Mayor Dr. Ken Siver’s appointment of Molly LaLone as the new Downtown Development Authority (SDDA) Director for the City of Southfield at the December 4 City Council Meeting. 

Ms. LaLone comes to the City with extensive experience in project management and economic development.  Since 2016, she has served as the Executive Director of the Lake Orion DDA.  Ms. LaLone also serves on several public boards and commissions and possesses an extensive background in DDA leadership and policy development. She earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Central Michigan University.  

“We are very appreciative of Mr. Aceves’ 14 years of service and looking forward to the vision and leadership that Ms. LaLone will bring to this important position,” commented Mayor Siver. “Southfield’s DDA is poised to experience great growth and expansion with the Northland City Center redevelopment, new Costco Business Center and many other exciting projects on the horizon.”

During her time as the Executive Director of the Lake Orion DDA, Ms. LaLone was responsible for the creation of the first social district in Michigan which provides flexibility for restaurants and bars by enabling the on-site sale and off-site consumption of alcoholic beverages in the designated “Social District” areas. Ms. LaLone developed and managed a dynamic “Main Street” program to bring regional awareness and provide stability for small business owners by collaborating with Oxford DDA to provide bigger promotions for customers and improved traffic for both downtowns. Ms. LaLone also helped to oversee reinvesting funds in Lake Orion into new downtown streets, sidewalks and parking spaces, a business incubator project, Children’s Park playground equipment, Paint Creek Trail Trailhead as well as seasonal flowers and holiday lights.