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June 2003
Calumet awarded Michigan Main Street Program
LANSING -- Representative Rich Brown (D- Bessemer) announced on Thursday,
June 19, that the Village of Calumet and Calumet Township have been selected to participate in the Michigan Main Street Program.
Administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan Main Street is a downtown revitalization program that offers year-round
assistance in strategies designed to create jobs and stimulate investment in downtown communities.
 "The historic structures of Calumet make up a key element of their
status as a National Historic Landmark," Brown said. "Many of those historic
buildings are currently vacant or underutilized, and economically viable occupancy must be developed to insure their survival. I am thrilled
that Calumet has been chosen for this program."
Tom Tikkanen, Calumet's Main Street program manager, said a crowd turned out
Thursday for celebration with food and music on Calumet's historic Fifth Street.
 "We're
excited about it because what Main Street does is provide some real organization
and planning for the existing groups within the community," Tikkanen
explained.
He said the Michigan Main Street designation allows the community to be
organized to become more eligible for resources such as grants, state and
federal programs and low-interest loans. One of the program's basic premises is
revitalization of downtown areas. MEDC sponsors a community's membership in the
national Main Street organization, he added.*
"One positive result of that is to limit sprawl," Tikkanen noted.
Brown said the MEDC Main Street application process began in February with 23
communities applying. Ten finalists presented plans to a team of officials from 12 state and local development organizations in May.
"The presentation put together by Calumet was first-rate and very thorough," said Brown. "With the strong backing of the entire community
and the excellent work from everyone at the Village, the Township and the Keweenaw National Historic
Park (KNHP), Calumet was able to surpass other applicants such as Muskegon, Boyne City and Mount Clemens."
John Rosemurgy, KNHP historical architect, said the park was a participant in
the local coalition that worked to bring the Main Street Program here.
"I think that joining forces with the community here represents the
spirit and the mission of the park, which is to achieve common goals through
cooperating efforts and partnership," Rosemurgy said.
He noted the common goals, in this case, are preservation and adaptive re-use
of the historical resources -- buildings and streetscapes.
* For more information about this program, visit the Main Street Program Web
site. 
See also the Keweenaw National Historical
Park Web site for more information about the park and its work of historic
preservation.
District 110 constituents may contact State Representative Rich Brown with
their concerns and issues by using his toll-free number: 1-888-663-4031.
Visit his Web site for more information about State Rep. Rich Brown (D-Bessemer) for Michigan's 110th District.
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