Gratiot Area Chamber of Commerce

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Contact GACofC:
	Patricia F. Nelson, Executive Director 110 W. Superior Street P.O. Box 516 Alma, MI 48801 PH: +1 (989) 463-5525 FX: +1 (989) 463-6588 Email: chamber@gratiot.org

Middle of the Mitten Association

By Shada Biabani, Middle of the Mitten Chair

and Phil Hansen, DDA/Economic Development Director, City of St. Louis

It has been a busy few months in St. Louis. Our annual Fishing Derby was again a huge success with 344 participants and over 500 people in attendance. This year, through a grant, we were able to supply a number of participants with fishing equipment to use for the day. We had great participation from area businesses that sponsored prizes and food. A big thank you to Joe Scholtz who makes this event run smoothly and continues to improve it each year.

The Middle of the Mitten Association Golf Outing was also held in June. We had 26 teams participate this year, the most we have ever had. This event helps to support our Fourth of July fireworks so we are greatful for all the participation. We need to thank the committee, Corey Bailey, Bob Lange, Larry Mott and Heidi Sitts, who worked very hard to put this event together. We also want to thank all the hole sponsors, companies who donated prizes and the individuals who worked during the event.

By the time you read this, our 4^th of July Fireworks Celebration will be over. This year a pancake breakfast started off the day. That was followed by an antique appraisal, entertainment in Clapp Park, an Ice Cream Social and Steak Fry. All of these events lead up to another outstanding fireworks display. Linda Miller, a St. Louis Florist, deserves a big thank you for organizing this event. We also need to thank all of the other organizations that had a part in the celebration; First United Methodist Men’s Club, Christians Caring for Community, Alma/St. Louis Lions Club, Mike Doty and I’m sure there are a number of others that helped make this a fun and exciting day in St. Louis.

A few more events are on tap for the summer, including the annual Rural Urban Day held at Hidden Oaks on July 13, St. Louis Community Day held in Clapp Park on July 29 and the Relay for Life that will be held at the St. Louis High School track on August 11-12.

For more information on all of these events please www.stlouismi.com .

There are a number of projects taking place in our downtown. Look for a lot of work to be done on individual storefronts this summer as the St. Louis Downtown Development Authority’s Façade Grant Program is implemented. This program provides funds up to $1,000 to individual building and business owners in the DDA area to make physical improvements to their storefronts. Applications were taken until June 21 and announcements of final award winners will be announced soon. Many of our businesses have done a fine job already of repairing and improving their appearances, but this program should make things happen even faster than before.

St. Louis’ Brownfield Task Force has been hard at work administering the $150,000 EPA assessment grant. The final bid was awarded in June for the teardown of the old Rowley & Church property on South Main Street so you should see nice improvement in the appearance of that area this year. Assessments are also being done on the northeast corner of North Mill and Center Street lot to prepare it to have old gas station tanks removed. Work is almost complete on the former Tester building site as well as the old Detroiter Mobile Homes property. All of these assessments provide information to developers in order to make a project more likely to happen on the sites.

The St. Louis Area Historical Society recently received a grant from the Gerstacker Foundation in Midland to make improvements on their properties on Crawford Street. The Society was awarded $7,500 to do work on the Depot Museum as well as their two story house across the street. Look for work to proceed this summer and congratulations to the Society members for all their volunteer work.

Finally, thanks to everyone who volunteers their time or expertise to help our community events happen in addition to all of those who are working so hard to make St. Louis a special place.