Art Auction Kicks Off Crowdfunding Campaign For Houghton, MI Skatepark

The fundraising goal for building a skatepark in Houghton is within reach.

Houghton, MI Skatepark will receive a matching grant of $50,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, if they can raise $50,000 themselves by June 9th.

Group Co-founder Alex Aho says the campaign is run through Patronicity, which is a crowdfunding site for non-profit organizations.

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Aho said, “This program they offer, called the Public Spaces Community Places program, the MEDC will match a goal that you set to raise, if you raise that amount during that crowdfunding period.”

They are kicking off the campaign with a charity art auction at the Keweenaw Brewing Company on Thursday, April 13th, from 7-9pm.

Over 50 skateboard decks were donated by Quincy Woodwrights of Houghton to be used by local artists as canvasses.

These boards will be auctioned off at the event, with the proceeds going toward the necessary matching funds.

With the cash they already have on hand, the campaign could raise enough money to begin Phase One of the park–and maybe even make the skatepark better than first thought.

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Aho said, “So once we get this $50,000 match, plus the $50,000 we raise during the campaign, cash will total to about $135,000—and the more the better! If we reach the $50,000 before that time’s up, please keep donating because it will go toward making that first phase of the skatepark that much better.”

Construction of the skatepark in east Houghton could begin as early as this summer.

Houghton Skateboard Chosen for $50,000 MEDC/Patronicity Matching Grant

Houghton, Michigan—Houghton MI Skatepark has been chosen as a recipient of a Michigan Economic Development Corporation matching gift grant totaling $50,000. If we can match that with donations of $50,000 by June 9, 2017 we will have met our fundraising goal and the Houghton MI Skatepark will become a reality this summer! So give now and have your donation doubled!

The fundraising campaign kicks off April 10 on the crowdfunding site, Patronicity. We must raise the full $50,000 in order to receive the matching $50,000 through MEDC. Go to the website for the campaign and make a pledge or contribute with a credit card at patronicity.com/project/houghton_mi_skatepark. All donations are tax deductible thanks to our relationship with the Keweenaw Community Foundation.

We are also kicking off this campaign with a charity art auction at the Keweenaw Brewing Company in Houghton on Thursday, April 13 from 7-9 PM. The event will feature work from 50+ local artists including high school students and professionals. Quincy Woodwrights, a Houghton-based skateboard deck manufacturer, donated boards to the artists as canvases for one-of-a-kind art pieces to be auctioned. All proceeds from the auction will go toward meeting the MEDC/Patronicity matching grant. Using the deck of skateboards as the canvas, each unique piece of art will be sold in a silent auction, and a live auction on select items will also take place starting at 8 PM. Live music will be provided by Bob Hiltunen. There will be no cover charge and all ages are welcome.

For more information on the Houghton, MI Skatepark project, please contacthoughtonmiskatepark@gmail.com or visit its website atwww.houghtonmiskatepark.org. To donate to the campaign please visitpatronicity.com/project/houghton_mi_skatepark.

Through philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, Keweenaw Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. For more information on Keweenaw Community Foundation and how to give, visit its website at www.keweenawgives.org.

Crowdfunding campaign launched for the ‘Houghton MI Skatepark’ project
$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – The city of Houghton will soon be home to a professional grade skatepark with the help of a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Keweenaw Community Foundation and Houghton MI Skatepark announced today. The campaign is being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by June 9, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: http://www.patronicity.com/houghtonmiskatepark.

“Providing safe and engaging recreation for youth is increasingly important in our communities, and the Houghton MI Skatepark is a great example of a space that accomplishes that,” said MEDC Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “We are pleased to be able to be a resource for this effort.”

Funding raised during this campaign will create the UP’s second professionally-built concrete skatepark. The skatepark will be located in Houghton East Waterfront Park. Professionally designed and constructed by world-class skatepark contractors, the skatepark will serve as a natural gathering space and provide an opportunity for physical activity and social interaction among youth in the area.

The Marquette Skatepark, the only skatepark currently in the U.P., is a two-hour drive for residents on the east side of the U.P. Once completed, the Houghton MI Skatepark is expected to draw daily users from over a 50-mile radius.

“Public Spaces, Community Places is a great program for community vitalization, and it’s awesome that it recognizes skateparks as valuable community assets. We’re grateful to participate,” said Alex Aho, co-founder of Houghton MI Skatepark. “The match will quickly fund a project that could otherwise take years.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, MSHDA, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity where local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, non-profits and other business entities can apply athttps://patronicity.com/puremichigan.

“The Michigan Municipal League strongly supports the concept of placemaking and creating vibrant spaces that people enjoy,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director for the League. “A skatepark is an excellent way to create placemaking and with backing of Houghton area supporters we are sure this park will be a source of pride for years to come.”

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of April 2, 2017, MEDC has provided $3,475,500 in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 107 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with nearly $4.2 million raised from 18,474 individual donors.