Welcome to Bessemer – Our Past Creates Our Future

Where will your project take place?

Bessemer, MI

Briefly Describe Your Project Idea:

Through the community’s request, the DDA wants to create a mural to commemorate Bessemer’s history and ethnicities. Samantha Dorr, city staff/ DDA liaison and Karen Stevens, business owner and DDA member will oversee the project. The DDA board will promote and assist with the project.

Why does your community need this project?

Bessemer was a booming mining town until 1966 when mining collapsed and people moved away. With COVID people needed to distance from one another. They were unable to travel to by air, so they drove to the Western Upper Peninsula (UP) – particularly the Bessemer area. The visitors began to enjoy all that the area has to offer. The area is thrilled with the influx of people, but the negative attitude of a “run down city” prevails.

Bessemer has worked hard to improve the community. We have done this by becoming a certified Redevelopment Ready Community and working on needed infrastructure improvement. For the last 2 years we have had a major road, water and wastewater systems construction project leaving the citizens in mud and frustration over the lack of a vibrant downtown.

Now that Hwy US 2 construction through the community is finished, the citizens are ready to do something that is more “attractive, decorative and inviting and will enhance the downtown. Citizens have seen public art in neighboring communities and have requested that the city investigate doing similar things. Just the suggestion of this has received an overwhelming response.

What do you hope to achieve through this project?

Our success will be in the transformation of a positive image for the city. We have faced negative perceptions through these 2 years of construction and our plan is to celebrate our community, our differences. As newer residents are coming here, having a mural that celebrates our differences promotes a fresh, welcoming image that aligns with our long-range goals which are reflected in our master plan.
With this image, we will judge success by more people visiting our downtown and a renewed economic interest in bringing new business to the main street.