ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Wednesday, Doozers bakery became the first Ishpeming business to receive the “Match on Main” grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
The grant was made available to Ishpeming businesses through efforts from the City of Ishpeming to receive the “Redevelopment Ready Communities” designation from MEDC, and coordination with the Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP)
“We are thrilled and honored to be awarded this grant,” Doozers’ owners said in a press release from LSCP. “We’re excited for this opportunity and for Doozers to continue to grow. Along with updating some of our kitchen equipment, we plan to add signage to our storefront. With increased production potential, we hope to expand our menu to include more delicious options. We want to continue to invest in our store, our brand and in beautiful Ishpeming.”
Doozers was one of 31 Michigan businesses to receive funding from the grant, and one of four in the UP.
The press release from LSCP can be found below, and the full release from the MEDC can be found here.
Marquette, MI – The Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) has been awarded $25,000 by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on behalf of Strong Little Leggies, Inc., dba Doozers, in downtown Ishpeming. The award is the first time businesses in downtown Ishpeming were eligible to apply for Match on Main, thanks to the City of Ishpeming’s efforts to obtain a Redevelopment Ready Communities designation. As part of the professional services agreement between the LSCP, the City, and the DDA, the LSCP provided support in soliciting local applications, determining the applicant to submit to the state, working with the applicant to formally apply, and will continue to provide support as the fiduciary for the grant which will be distributed to the business once the project is complete.
Doozers will use the funds to make several upgrades to their equipment and sales avenues to enhance revenue and help the business expand.
Full details can be found in MEDC’s release here.
Statements from LSCP, business, and the City of Ishpeming are below:
Christopher Germain, LSCP CEO: “MEDC’s Match on Main program is a popular and impactful program that enables small businesses to further grow and thrive. Each year the program becomes more competitive, which speaks to the high quality of work the LSCP team and Claire and DJ (Doozers) did in putting together a comprehensive application. Capturing opportunities like Match on Main to bring state dollars back to our U.P. communities is just one more positive result of our ongoing partnership with the City of Ishpeming, which is now in its third year. I am appreciative of MEDC for offering the program, Doozers for applying, our team for giving it their all, and the City of Ishpeming for continuing to trust the LSCP team as a key partner in pursuing their community economic development goals, which include supporting the continued momentum we’re seeing in western Marquette County.”
Doozers: “We are thrilled and honored to be awarded this grant. We’re excited for this opportunity and for Doozers to continue to grow. Along with updating some of our kitchen equipment, we plan to add signage to our storefront. With increased production potential, we hope to expand our menu to include more delicious options. We want to continue to invest in our store, our brand and in beautiful Ishpeming.”
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