Calumet businesses and people drive the community’s progress. Recently the Frozen Farms Company completed its first-floor expansion and two upstairs housing units. The project received 324,000 in grant funds from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and was supported by a 5,0000-dollar match with the Calumet Downtown Development Authority. The project invests 737,000 dollars in Fifth Street and is one of four improvements to the downtown area.
One is at 105th Street where the restaurant and Sturos CPA is located. The other is next door to that at 104. The fire tower engineered timber building. They converted that for their offices. The next one down is known as the Bear Brothers Meat Market, which provided three more housing units downtown that hadn’t been there before. Again, these were all buildings that were either unoccupied or partially occupied. In the case of 104, it was damaged by the 5th street fire. So, all of these buildings have now been brought back up to 100 percent economic use and function. – Jeff Ratcliffe, executive director, of Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
Frozen Farms Company owner Jean Mcparlan adds since opening the meat cooperative’s doors it’s been amazing to see the community’s support for locally sourced food, artisan items, and kitchen tools. She adds she is excited to be a part of Calumet’s growth.
Well, we’re excited to see downtown grow and improve block by block, building by building. Even across the street, we have a new park that is going to be opening up with nice seating and greenery just making downtown a much more pleasant place to be and walk around. – jean mcparlan
While the DDA’s contribution appears small the local funding carries strong support behind it. Main Street Calumet’s Executive Director shares the 5,000-dollar contribution by the village represents a significant portion of the DDA’s annual budget.
Our downtown development authority has been trying to leverage the small amount of funding that it manages to really make growth happen. And so, they have committed $5,000 to this project, which is a drop in the bucket, but it does provide that local match and that local support. That represents ten percent of their annual budget. So, it’s a large commitment in a very small community and its tremendous leverage to bring growth, to bring additional residents and additional tax dollars to the community. – Leah Polzin, Executive director, main street calumet
KEDA executive director Jeff Ratcliffe says the renovated space returns the sense of walkability around town.
320 5th Street, now home to Frozen Farms Co and two housing units, was once the site of the saloon. Over the years the site changed owners and names, from The Fashion to the Ivy Saloon, and Wheeler’s Tavern before closing in the mid-20th century.
In 2021 Frozen Farms Co moved into the location on a mission to connect family dinner tables to local farms. Learn more about Frozen Farms Co and work to renovate Calumet online. Frozen Farms Company’s expansion creates over 2800 square feet of new commercial space, with two second-story apartments.
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