Hope Celebrates Community
Appreciation Day

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I have had the pleasure of serving as Community Development Director for the City of Ironwood since March, 2008. The Community Development Office serves as staff to the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority, Ironwood Planning Commission, Ironwood Economic Development Corporation, and collaborates with other various boards and commissions at the local and regional levels.

Although I am relatively new to the Ironwood community, I am particularly fond of the downtown district. While I do understand that times are tough, the economy is not healthy on a national or world-wide it is important to note that downtown Ironwood is by no means desperate and is by no means dead. This was appoint that was made clear by Doyle Hyett, whose recent involvement with our downtown will be made more clear later. Indeed, downtown Ironwood has a strong economic potential, is positioned well to serve as a regional gathering place, and has a unique story to tell. The downtown is the cultural and historical center for the broader community. It is literally where Ironwood started. The unique architectural and business establishments that already exists are good foundations for economic development.

Recently, the community received recommendations from a nationally-renowned downtown consulting firm, HyettPalma, which were based on the firm’s extensive experience in working with downtowns as well as detailed information gathered from the community and the region. Focus sessions, one-on-one interviews, meetings with various boards, driving tours, walking tours, and other local data-gathering techniques served as the basis for the Ironwood Downtown Blueprint 2009 document. These processes – and the resulting recommendations - are exciting and important for various reasons. Not the least of which is the common vision that was created by residents, business owners, and users of the downtown for what they want their…your…downtown to look like in five years.

Another important result of the Blueprints process is the partnership that was established, which is often absent in other, similar planning processes. In this case, the partnership between state agencies such as the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) (the funding agencies for many downtown revitalization activities) .

City staff continues to monitor the programs available for businesses both downtown and city-wide. The most well-known resources to downtown business owners include the Downtown Façade Improvement Program (a 50%-50% grant program for exterior rehabilitation), Rental Rehabilitation (a 75%-25% grant program that could be used to enhance the residential living units above first-store commercial areas), and the City’s Economic Development Fund (a lending mechanism by which the City makes loans to businesses looking at start-up or expansion). Other mechanisms are available, but often times situations require more information. The Community Development Office is always willing to sit down with current and prospective business owners to see what type of assistance may be available to them in order to meet their goals. Please do not hesitate to contact me at (906) 932-5050 or petersend@cityofironwood.org

Scouts Add Can Collection Location

I.V.F.D.
Elects
Officers

Township to Use
Health Care Savings
on Road Repair

Town Supervisor, Kim Mattson advised that the Township's first cleanup day, held on Saturday, was a complete success. There was a great turnout and thanked everyone who helped ou along with Hilborn's scrap metal. Approximately one hundred people showed up and scrap was picked up at another twenty-five home. Bernie Brunello also stated that there were many good reports on the project. Bob Fredrickson told Kim hat she should be commended for the job she did.

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GCC Basketball Clinic in Progress

The 2009 Samson and Lady Samson Basketball Clinic began yesterday at the Lindquist Student Center on the campus of Gogebic Community College,. When asked how long has the clinic been operating co-director Dennis Mackey told us that this is the twenty third year that he has been associated with the clinic and it was being operated before he came on board. 

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