OSCODA – The Oscoda Township Economic Improvement Committee (EIC) held a special meeting on Monday, March 17 at 10 a.m. to review applications submitted by local businesses for the Match on Main grant available from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
As reported, Oscoda Township Community Development Director Nancy Howse reached out to all 121 business owners and vacant building owners in the township’s Corridor Improvement Authority by letter and email to let them know about the opportunity. Her efforts resulted in seven applications being submitted by local business owners. In previous years only two local businesses had submitted applications.
This year applications were submitted by the owners of Crusecom, Huron Shores Artisan Hall, the Lake Theatre, State Street Plaza, Tait’s Bill of Fare, The Tea Corner Emporium and Zubek Motors.
Members of the EIC received all of the applications in a 175-page packet put together by Howse.
Art Cruse, owner of Crusecom, proposed to renovate the building located at 5226 N. US 23 unit 1, formerly home to Tier 4, in the back portion of the G’s Pizza property, to serve as the new headquarters of Crusecom. According to the application, 95% of Crusecom’s employees work remotely, which has changed the business’ space needs. Cruse would be moving from the 14,000 square foot building on the former base.
EIC Chair Dave Carmona said he had a number of questions and concerns. Carmona said he was confused by the different business names as Cruse used both Crusecom and Michigan Call Center in the application. He asked how moving the headquarters would increase foot traffic to the area. He also questioned the ability of the building to accommodate 20 employees. He commented that the drawings included in the application make it look like employees will be working on site. Cruse said on the application that he would be adding 20 full-time and five part-time employees.
Trustee Regina Fortner commented that the majority of the staff work remotely. She added that people who work for Crusecom can work from anywhere in the country. She said it will not bring people into the area.
After some discussion of how to score the applications and whether or not to discuss scores openly it was decided that the applications would each be discussed and scored openly. The application from Crusecom received a total score of 94 points out of a possible 160 for an average score of 23.5. EIC member Jim Rowden did not attend the meeting, so the total scores were divided by four to calculate an average score.
Cruse, who was out of the country, was not able to attend the meeting.
The proposal from Ann Rataj, owner of the Huron Shores Artisan Hall, included using funds to create the “Plein Air Artist” a piece of sculpture on the Huron Shores Artisan Hall property. Rataj proposed that the sculpture would be built as part of a garden. Rataj who attended the meeting brought a model of the sculpture with her.
Carmona asked Rataj if she owned the property where the sculpture will be located and she responded that she did. She responded that the sculpture would be placed where she built the blue ox that is now located next to Paul Bunyon on Furtaw Field.
Carmona asked Rataj if she had considered putting the sculpture somewhere where there is more foot traffic, noting that the sculpture would not be visible from US-23. Rataj commented that a lot of people walk the alley. Bill Tait, who attended the meeting, commented that the alley is used as a thoroughfare to get to Dairy Queen.
Carmona commented that most of the funds would go to Rataj as the artist and that he didn’t really see any economic benefit to the Artisan Hall or the community by having the piece.
Tim O’Connor said it was unfair to score Rataj because the Artisan Hall serves as a place for artists to display their works. “I do love seeing all of the art and placemaking, good luck!” O’Connor told Rataj.
Carmona told Rataj that the EIC has been discussing having a sculpture walk in downtown with Robin Savage, who chairs the Art & Placemaking subcommittee. He referred to it as “a treasure hunt of sorts.” He added that the township does not have any funding at this time but hopefully will have funding available later in the year.
Fortner commented that she doesn’t see the sculpture bringing people to our community or how it will bring in revenue. After some further discussion the EIC members scored the proposal 113 out of 160 points, with an average score of 28.25.
Dave Iler submitted a proposal for the State Street Plaza that would house micro retail stores at the vacant property located at the intersection of State and River Roads in downtown Oscoda. According to his application, the lot has been vacant for four years.
The proposed plaza would include 17 buildings of various sizes (10’ X 12’, 12’ X 16’, 12’ X 20’) in a u-shaped formation. A stage for live music would be located at the south end of the property. A courtyard in the center of the property would provide seating. According to the proposal, murals will be painted on the US-23 side of the buildings.
In his application Iler reports that he received a grant from Target Huron for just under $5,000 to purchase a second chalet.
Carmona said Iler, who had previously served as the chair of the EIC, did a meticulous job of connecting the project to the township’s Master Plan.
Carmona added that he liked the location of the project on US-23 and that it addresses the need to draw people to the west side of the street.
Fortner had questions about how often the pop-up shops would be open. She said she knows a lot of people who would want to use the shop space for items they make ranging from shirts to cups. She added that she makes essential oils.
The main concern that the EIC members had was about the availability of restrooms for both the vendors and the customers. O’Connor said he had run into Iler while purchasing something at the hardware store and that Iler had assured him that there would be restroom and hand-washing facilities. After some further discussion, EIC members did find a mention of plumbing in the proposal.
The EIC members all expressed enthusiasm about the project and its ability to draw both vendors and people to the downtown. They noted that Iler would need to go to the planning commission with his plans. Carmona said he wished Iler had attended the meeting to answer questions the EIC members had.
Ultimately the members scored the application a 150 out of 160 points with an average score of 37.5.
Kira Tait wrote a proposal for Tait’s Bill of Fare to remove two outdoor parking spaces on the street in front of the restaurant to create an outdoor patio for dining that can accommodate up to 24 diners.
According to Tait, there is a high demand for outdoor dining during the busy summer season. The proposed project includes adding a collaborative mural to the side of the building to replace the mural that is there now which was painted approximately 25 years ago.
The proposal also includes using grant funding to purchase a point-of-sale system that allows for orders to be taken and payments to be made anywhere on the property. The development of a website for the business is also included in the proposal.
“I think it’s really nice to do a little bistro on the street,” Carmona said but he expressed concerns about the ability to use parking spaces in the road for outdoor dining. Bill Tait, who attended the meeting to represent the proposal, responded that the model had been used in Bay City and elsewhere. He said the restaurant would use stanchions and ropes to designate the area on the street for dining.
Carmona asked when during the season the area would be used. Tait responded that it would be used weather permitting.
Carmona said he scored the application based on his concerns about the implementation capacity.
“They are basically our parking spaces,” Tait responded.
“I’m happy you’re here,” O’Connor told Tait. He added that Dwight Street does get closed off more than any other street and he wasn’t concerned about using the two parking spaces. O’Connor said he was enlightened by the point-of-sale equipment that was included in the proposal.
“Which I fought my entire life,” Tait responded. O’Connor said this was a great opportunity to include it.
Once the scores were tallied the proposal received 133 out of 160 points, an average of 33.25.
The proposal from The Lake Theatre was similar to the one that was submitted in 2024. Owners Jim and Teresa Edelman proposed to activate the vacant space between the theater and Michigan Fit Club to create The Backlot Bistro, an outdoor entertainment and event space.
The proposed project includes clearing and paving the space between the buildings, adding gates, tables, chairs and lighting. The space would offer an outdoor venue for the Dwight Street Live concerts on Wednesdays as well as other public and private events.
Carmona asked about electrical work to be able to power the outside lights. He also asked about the use of restrooms since that was not addressed in the proposal.
O’Connor responded that the benefit was that the Edelmans own the building and can place lights on it.
Carmona also asked about revenue projections. Howse pointed out that there was information in the application about revenue projections as well as additional products that would be offered.
“I think it’s a great idea. It is going to build up the Social District. It’s unfortunate we can only put two projects forward,” Carmona commented.
O’Connor expressed concerns about restrooms and trash cans. He said he loved what the Lake Theatre wants to do, that it was a “wonderful thing” and that it is “suitable for our vision.”
Howse commented that she is working with the Oscoda Township Department of Public Works (DPW) to provide port-a-potties and trash cans in the social district.
Tait commented that people use the restrooms in the restaurant all of the time and he doesn’t have a problem with that.
Fortner said she assumed that the Lake Theatre would let people use their restrooms. Carmona said there would need to be a way to separate the restrooms from the movie theater. The Edelmans did not attend the meeting so they were not able to answer questions.
The proposal from the Lake Theatre received a score of 133 out of 160, an average of 33.25.
Gretchen Whitefield, owner of The Tea Corner Emporium, proposed using funding to expand the store into the back room and purchase additional inventory that is not currently available in the area.
Whitefield wants to offer lactation and Lamaze classes, pregnancy yoga, clothing and other items for pregnant women and babies that are not available locally. She also wants to expand her tea offerings to include more teas for pregnancy and postpartum.
Whitefield proposed to purchase an inventory of dresses that could be worn for special occasions such as weddings, homecoming and prom.
In addition to purchasing merchandise, Whitefield proposed using some of the grant funds to purchase a new front door for the shop.
Carmona commented that Whitefield’s proposal was unique and addressed a lot of community needs. He added that he didn’t have any questions about the proposal.
“I have to agree, it’s a wonderful thing and will bring in women for the things they are going to offer,” O’Connor added.
Whitefield’s proposal scored 134 out of 160 points, an average of 33.50.
John Zubek, owner of Zubek Motors, proposed modernizing the car dealership’s showroom by replacing windows and glass doors. Zubek said the updates will help make the business more competitive in northern Michigan and provide better services to customers. He also added that the renovations will result in additional sales.
Zubek, who attended the meeting, said he has been in the community for 45 years.
Carmona said he wasn’t sure how the proposal would bring traffic to the area.
Zubek responded that the improved appearance will bring more people in. He described the other improvements that had been made with the façade improvement grant he received from the township.
“I love the fact that you have cleaned up the building. New glass makes a difference,” O’Connor commented.
Zubek’s proposal received a score of 119 out of a possible 160 points for an average score of 29.75.
After tabulating and averaging the scores, the EIC recommended that the applications from the State Street Plaza and The Tea Corner Emporium advance to the March 24 Oscoda Township Board of Trustees meeting for approval.
After some discussion EIC members decided that they needed separate motions for both projects. O’Connor made a motion to approve the application for the State Street Plaza that was supported by Fortner and unanimously approved.
Fortner made a motion to approve the application from The Tea Corner Emporium that was supported by O’Connor and passed unanimously.
During member comments O’Connor said he wanted to thank everyone who applied from the “bottom of my heart.”
“Everything rates a star from me. We’d like to send them all in,” he added.
“I totally agree,” Fortner commented adding that the proposals addressed great needs and included great ideas.
Kary Osborn said he appreciated the involvement from business owners and encouraged them to keep going.
Carmona said he echoed what the other members had said. He acknowledged the hard work that went into completing the applications. He added that there are opportunities for funding from the MEDC that businesses can apply for directly. Carmona encouraged business owners to take a look at Iler’s application and the funding sources he had accessed as well as how he connected the project to the Master Plan.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:24. There was no public comment during the meeting. The Owl was not used to record the meeting.
Once the applications are approved by the board Howse will add the businesses’ information in the MEDC portal along with information about the township’s economic development activities.
As reported, although up to $25,000 in funding can be obtained by a business, Oscoda Township is the applicant for the grant. The township can apply with two businesses. A minimum of a $2,500 match is required by each business and the grant payment is made on a reimbursement basis.
Oscoda Township is eligible to apply for the Match on Main program because the township attained Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) status through MEDC.
Match on Main award announcements are expected to be made during the summer. According to representatives from MEDC, the program is very competitive.
