PRESS RELEASE: ELK RAPIDS DDA AWARDS FACADE GRANTS TO DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES

Elk Rapids Downtown Development Authority (DDA) awarded 6 facade grants at the October DDA meeting for the 2023 Facade award cycle totaling $22,430 to Foundry Craft & Grillery, GetADesign, Haystacks, Stuff & Such, Swim to You, and Traverse Bay Farms. Each business committed funds to match or exceed the DDA award, totaling $45,860 for façade improvements in the downtown area.

The facade improvements range from replacing windows/doors, addressing safety issues, adding signage, repairing masonry, replacing fabric awnings in keeping with the Village architectural look and character. The improvements are funded to encourage businesses to make lasting improvements to the business façade.

“The DDA is pleased to partner with our businesses to encourage private investment through the rehabilitation and improvement of façades within the DDA district, with a focus on supporting historic preservation practices,” explained DDA Chair Barbara Matthews. “By improving the appearance of the building façades, the program serves to support the economic viability of the DDA District. The DDA is excited to partner with businesses throughout the district to improve placemaking efforts and spur economic development opportunities in the Village.”

The DDA plans to offer a Spring funding cycle for Elk Rapids’ businesses who are interested in making facade improvements in the DDA District.

PRESS RELEASE: AMES STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT RECEIVES $485,000 IN RAP 2.0 GRANT FUNDING

The Village of Elk Rapids has been awarded $485,000 for the Revitalization and Place Making (RAP) 2.0 grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for the Ames Street Improvement Project. With the funding from the RAP 2.0 grant, the Village will finalize plans and get started on phase one of the Ames Street Improvement Project.

The Ames Street Improvements Plan is a multi-phased project designed to enhance economic development of the Ames Street Corridor, one of the most important commercial corridors in the Village of Elk Rapids. The Plan was developed based upon community feedback and calls for streetscaping and placemaking improvements, including accessibility improvements such as sidewalks on both sides of the street, bike lanes, and benches, safety improvements like increased lighting and crosswalks, and aesthetic improvements such as natural landscaping. This Plan is aimed at improving this vital economic corridor, which was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phase one of the Plan focuses on the US-31 crossing between Ames Street and Dexter Street, which will connect the Corridor to a route leading to the traditional downtown on River Street, as well as completing placemaking improvements along the commercial section of the Corridor from US-31 to Bass Street. Safety precautions and signage will be a priority for the highway crossing as a sidewalk system on the North side of Ames connects to this crossing. For the placemaking improvements, the focus will be on accessible sidewalks along the North side of Ames which will incentivize walkability and interactions with the local businesses in the Corridor. There will also be striped bike lanes along the entire length of the Corridor from US-31 to Wilder Road.

The total cost of phase one of the Plan is approximately $970,000. The Village of Elk Rapids requested $485,000 from the MEDC RAP 2.0 grant and will provide matching funds with $200,000 from the Elk Rapids Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the remaining $285,000 coming from the Village of Elk Rapids. As of the current estimates, the three phases of the Plan are projected to cost just under $2,000,000 to complete.

“We are thrilled that our community was selected for this competitive grant,” said Village President Karen Simpson. “This funding will be the catalyst to connecting the Village’s two economic corridors and create a greater sense of place for Elk Rapids. We look forward to collaborating with the MEDC and other regional partners to complete this project.”