New business approved by CDC for Renaissance Zone location
Ebenezer Scrooge was not in the room when the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) met on the Thursday before Christmas and approved an offer to purchase by Thunder Bay Martial Arts owners Dan and Deb Schackmann ? setting in motion the first business to locate within the county?s Renaissance Zone located near the airport.
?IT CERTAINLY is my pleasure to sign this,? said EDC/CDC chairwoman Kammie Dennis. ?This has been a long process for us?and we?ll do everything we can to make this a smooth transition.? Dan Schackmann presented the EDC with a video presentation Thursday evening that showed how his martial arts business located on US-23 in Alpena is conducted. It is a facility that focuses on providing physical activity for children and adults, along with the opportunity to learn self control, confidence, teamwork, self defense, and the ability to set and achieve goals. Schackmann said he had several parents who were driving their children to Alpena ask him why he didn?t have a facility located within Rogers City. He tried bringing the program into the local school systems, but realized it wasn?t a good fit. He and his wife began offering classes at different locations throughout Rogers City, including the Knights of Columbus hall.
?We have a beautiful facility in Alpena, but when we work here we had to haul equipment over,? said Schackmann. ?We do the best we can. We?ve run classes in the community for more than four years.? Schackmann said it has been difficult to keep families coming in Rogers City because he gets ?bumped from facility to facility.? He told the EDC he believed his participation numbers would jump if there were a permanent facility to meet. He said the facility he proposes to be located in Rogers City would be 50 percent larger than the Alpena facility.
?THE PROPOSED facility would be much bigger?with better flooring,? said Schackmann. ?We could have dance classes use it, step aerobics, yoga ? we already have others who are (interested) in using the facility.? The building would be a metal structure open for multiple uses. EDC member Jane Kroll said she was pleased to hear Schackmann was open to having other uses for the building besides his martial arts business. ?If this is available for additional (uses)?that will bring in?other jobs,? said Kroll. ?That is additional income for folks in our community, and more to participate in. I think that speaks to quality of life, and we can?t lose sight of that.?
EDC member Tom Sobeck mentioned that having local families travel to Alpena to participate in Schackmann?s martial arts program is money not being kept within the county. Rogers City resident Glen Smolinski said three of his four children attend karate classes offered by Schackmann. ?You?ve heard there is nothing for kids to do here,? said Smolinski. ?This is a great outlet for kids. It keeps them off the street, and it?s an education.? Another Rogers City resident, Rose Buck, said her granddaughter has been involved in the program for four years, and that she and her husband have driven to Alpena every week for the program.
?She is gaining confidence, and we are very proud of her,? said Buck. ?We are proud to support Mr. Schackmann ? this is something our community needs.? According to the conditions set forth in the purchase agreement, the business will have to create an equivalent of 1.5 jobs within 18 months. Schackmann is required to build on the site within six months. Closing on the property is scheduled for April 15. Establishing business within the county Renaissance Zone has been a hot topic on the agendas of the CDC/EDC and Rogers City for some time. Rogers City acquired a $200,000 loan from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to add water and sewer lines to the properties. The loan required the creation of 20 new jobs in order for the loan to become a grant. Later, the MEDC reduced the job requirement. Although the new martial arts business does not guarantee the creation of many jobs, it is a good start in the right direction.
?Every avalanche starts with just a little pebble,? said Schackmann Thursday. CDC/EDC director Bill Valentine then t
IN OTHER EDC/CDC news:
? Rogers City manager Mark Slown attended the CDC/EDC meeting to state the city?s support of director Bill Valentine. He said the city looks forward to being in partnership with the CDC/EDC to move the community forward.
? The CDC approved a letter of support regarding a GED project spearheaded by the Presque Isle County District Library, Michigan Department of Human Services, Michigan Works, and the Presque Isle Academy. The library has applied for a grant to establish a program within the community making it possible for people to earn their GED.
? CDC director Valentine announced the formation of the Grambau Center Exploratory Committee (GCEC), which will hold a community forum focused on generating different options regarding the future use of the Grambau Center facility. Valentine said there are several options for the building, including destruction, selling it to a developer, converting it for assisted living purposes, and/or making it into a multi-use community center. Valentine said the building has several Brownfield issues, such as lead paint and asbestos, which could qualify it for possible grants. He said it is a building very ?near and dear to the hearts of people.? Jane Kroll and Tom Sobeck volunteered to be part of the GCEC.