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

Thanks to everyone who made the St. Louis 4^th of July Celebration a success. An entire afternoon of food, music and fun led up to the area’s feature fireworks display that again drew a huge crowd from all across mid-Michigan. Special thanks to Linda Miller of St. Louis Florist Gifts & Greenhouse for coordinating the day’s events as well as Dana Saurman of River Rock Bar & Grill for all her help with the hospitality tent. Also to Woody Black of Woody’s Music for playing through a thunder and lightning storm and to Minard Shattuck and Blues Ambush for the use of their sound equipment for the entire day. Minard continues to renovate the old GEM Theatre downtown and is looking forward to having that provide a great performing area as well.

The Middle of the Mitten Association is now starting to gear up for the annual Small Town Family Christmas. Again this year, there will be an electric light parade, a reception with entertainment, reindeer and some new activities as well. The Christians Caring for Community group is also planning to have a Holiday Home Tour this year. This is an event that has not happened for a few years, so be ready to tour some very nice homes in St, Louis. The Small Town Family Christmas events take place during the first weekend of December, so mark your calendars now.

In other St. Louis news, more activity has been going on downtown as Gary Sych has purchased The Ugly Mug Café & Deli at 124 North Mill Street. Gary’s son Chris is a chef and will be managing the business so look for good food there for breakfast and lunch, as well as coffee (of course) and good service. The Ugly Mug is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Make sure to stop in and check out the place and congratulate them on their new endeavor. Right across the street at 131 North Mill you’ll also see some changes in other buildings that Gary owns at Victoria’s Flower Cottage and next door at the new Mill Pond Treasures.

1. In addition, several downtown buildings will be getting improvements with the help of St. Louis DDA Façade Grants. Work will be starting before long on Victoria’s Flower Cottage, Common Threads Quilt Shop, Jim’s Barber Shop, Peters Hardware & Gifts, CJ’s Auto Sales and Brewer-Bouchey Monument. So far roughly $6,000 in grants from the DDA will produce approximately an additional $10,000 in private investment, so the program is really being beneficial to the downtown’s appearance. Grants help pay for such things as awnings, brick work, painting, signs, etc.