Rogers City about to become ?Cool!? as part of governor’s Cool Cities program

Jeffrey Hopp and Anne Belanger were given the task nine months ago to look into a new state initiative called ?Cool Cities.? It involved making hometowns into desirable, economically feasible, welcoming places that would draw public interest and community support. Both Hopp and Belanger took this task to heart and spent these many months visiting other communities, gathering information, and finding out what works and what doesn?t: what kinds of obstacles should be avoided, and finally some answers. They developed a plan to put Rogers City on the road to becoming a destination, a drawing card, a place with a future. That plan debuted at a Rogers City Council workshop Monday evening, when Hopp and Belanger presented their findings, backed up with photographs supplied by Hopp.

?COOL CITIES is a mechanism to retain talent, maximize assets, perpetuate business, and keep our youth in the area,? Hopp began as he presented the council with a gorgeous view showing Rogers City?s expanse including the harbor, blue waters of Lake Huron, and the greenery of the area in a large aerial photograph. Hopp maintained that information without action is nothing and will not amount to anything. He said he was sick and tired of any more meetings, and that this was a simple five-step plan of action that should be initiated and led by the city council, because it represents the city.

He challenged the council to accept the plan and achieve the beginning five steps. The steps included: Grass roots initiative, bridging organizations into a common vision, establishing a cultural plan, an image development campaign, and having the city of Rogers City adopt a proactive approach.

?The grass roots initiative means expanding goods and services that will lead to better competitive pricing. ?When you find you can?t purchase something here, go to the local merchant and ask if he can get it for you ? the goal is to keep one half of all money spent elsewhere right here in Rogers City if possible.? Hopp explained that if more money were spent within the city, more goods could be offered to the public and kept at a lower cost. In turn, more local employment could be offered which in turn would attract more prospective businesses and visitors to Rogers City.

?This is an educational process,? Hopp said. ?I?ve run my business since 1982 and I learn something new all the time. We must act like enablers to each other. Tell each other when something is good or when something is bad or when we need something they don?t offer.? Hopp said the key is organization to propel the first initiative through direct mail and mass advertising efforts to increase awareness.

Hopp wrote in the plan, ?The key to this ?grass root? initiative is that it must show results?not only to the bottom line of businesses, but equally to the quality and selection of services to the customer to guarantee sustenance.?

?The second point, bridging organizations into a common vision, is to encourage key representatives within each organization at the city and county level to meet and identify where duplication of responsibilities may exist. ?There is time and talent all around us,? Hopp said. ?I am constantly amazed at how many people have so much creative talent right here within our city — but everyone is off in their own direction ? we need to organize all the service groups, the organizations and stop wasting time and efforts and money.?

Hopp stressed that talk will not get anything done; there has to be a focus on action. Through the common vision, strengths within each organization could be maximized, streamlined, and an overall common vision could be determined to produce driven objectives.

?Belanger addressed the third point in the plan regarding the establishment of a cultural plan. ?What makes us unique in northern Michigan?? Belanger began. ?Arts fuel the growth in a city.? According to information supplied in the plan, the arts and culture sector of the state is responsible for $46 billion of income and ranks third behind manufacturing and retail trade and ahead of construction, utilities in the economy. That?s 6.5 percent of Michigan?s total economy.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm was quoted, ?We need the arts to help provide the fun, the life, the entertainment, the color, and the buzz. It is the arts that provide the magnetism to bring people here, the creative class that provides the interest ? the humor, the music, the aesthetics.? Belanger said the Radka Building is becoming a cultural center for the city where classes such as dance, pottery, and yoga could be offered, as well as many other activities.

?Travelers include culture on their trips ? they stay and go places because of cultural activities and events while on vacations,? Belanger said. Hopp added, ?You can?t give away Renaissance Zone property to a creative class of people, if the area doesn?t offer something of a cultural nature for them to enjoy.? Cultural tourism is an industry that generates jobs, revitalizes communities, and draws tourists.

?The fourth point in the action plan is to develop an image campaign. Hopp and Belanger presented huge photographs Hopp had taken showing exactly what people see as they drive into Rogers City from all the major roadways. It was a sad look that greets people, and nothing that would make one want to drive downtown to see the beaches, the harbor, the businesses, the town itself. The signs were in bad repair and said nothing of interest to the viewer.

At the corner of Bradley Highway and West Third Street, only a blinker light greets the passerby. There are no signs to encourage a visitor to turn toward the downtown area. ?The environment must be cleaned up and made presentable ? there are eyesores, and we all know where they are. We must improve our reputation. We need better marketing and we need to improve and that includes better signage,? Hopp said.

?We need to pull them in from US-23 ? we have a traffic direction issue that must be addressed.? ?Resources are available for help ? grants, but someone is needed to write and sponsor them,? Belanger added. Hopp said this is where the press, the radio, brochures, and advertising come in but in an organized fashion. A beautification and streetscape plan for downtown needs to be developed with cooperation between the city and the county. Hopp and Belanger stressed that accountability must be enforced for property owners of vacant buildings as well as their repair, maintenance, and building code updates.

?The final point is that Rogers City must adopt a proactive approach. ?The buck has to stop somewhere ? the city council must be the ones to make that stop ? I think the city council must have the driving focus point ? someone has to be in charge,? Hopp said. ?This is designed to make things better, to show off our city to the world ? to create a magnetic environment ? a cultural place with a reason to come downtown. We need to create an image and use signage to direct people into our city. These five things are doable in small steps by staying focused,? Hopp insisted. Some

council members wanted to know why Hopp thought it is council?s responsibility.

?Because you are the city ? you represent the city. These things don?t cost money. You can enable or designate the various entities to get these things done. But take the responsibility to lead the effort,? Hopp said. ?Take this (plan) but don?t put it away ? or it will all have been for nothing!? Hopp said. Mayor Beach Hall thanked Hopp and Belanger for their presentation and all the work they put into it. Hopp said all the good intentions in the world without action mean nothing and implored the council to take action immediately.

?I?m challenging you to run with it,? Hopp added. ?When you achieve these first five goals?we?ll give you five more.? Councilmen questioned again whether this was something they should take on. ?If you don?t take the responsibility?who will?? Hopp responded. ?You have to designate it and make them (the entities) responsible. You are the city and you stand a better chance of success. I fear it will fall flat when we walk out of here if you don?t take the responsibility.? It was agreed to put the matter on the agenda for the regular council meeting which followed the presentation.

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