Project Name: Nautical Paws
ABOUT THE APPLICANT
Are you applying as a:
Municipal Government
What is the entity’s name:
Rogers City Municipal Government
Website URL
Twitter Handle:
Facebook Handle:
DowntownRogersCity
Instagram Handle:
What is the name of the primary contact for this entity’s application/project?
Alex Harimoto
What are their preferred pronouns?
He/him/his
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Where will your project take place? (please include city/village too)
The project takes place in downtown Rogers City, Michigan. We are a small rural community located on Lake Huron in Presque Isle County. About 3000 people make this area their home and enjoy miles of beaches, parks, conservation areas, bike paths, hiking trails, and birding sites. Nature lovers of all stripes enjoy this area from snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the winter to biking, kayaking, hiking, and boating in the summer.
Anticipated project launch date
August 1, 2023
Briefly describe your project idea including your role and any project partners.
Nautical Paws is about increasing dog-friendliness in Rogers City in order to bring together our diverse community of dog lovers that includes visitors as well as full time and summer residents.
How do you plan to spend the $5,000 microgrant? Please list and explain the items, services, fees, expertise, etc. that you plan to purchase.
Artist $200
Dog bowls $600
Bandanas $500
Nautical Paws Signs $800
Benches $2300
Doggie Bags $300
Dog leash hooks $300
Will your project require special permits from the community you are in? For example, anything that requires a street closure or installing a permanent art piece will likely require a special permit from your local governing body or zoning board. If your project is funded, the MML Foundation is happy to help you navigate that process. Please note that all applicants must obtain any necessary permits for their projects, if selected for funding.
Unsure
Rachel’s Notes about the Project
Reviewed 4.13.23. Confirmed member status. Confirmed businesses. Couldn’t confirm artist’s online presence. Confirmed LOS. the artistic element is unclear. Artist will be paid. NOTE: we awarded a neighborhood microgrant to this applicant (different person applying, same granting entity “Rogers City government”) previously. Jurors, please weigh the merit of this application against this history.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Why does your community need this project?
We are a rural community that is increasingly attracting new residents and tourists. As our demographics have changed so have our downtown needs. It is important for our downtown to be a friendly and welcoming space. Benefits of dogs in the downtown
• Dog walkers, particularly children and women, feel safer when walking their dog.
• Increases habitual visitation of downtown. Main street can become a regular route for people walking their dogs, increasing the chance they stop for a coffee or buy some goods.
• Helps initiate community interaction. People stop to pet dogs which creates a friendlier environment.
• Deter pests such as seagulls & rodents
• Attract new residents and visitors.
How will you engage your community in this project?
We will have businesses who are involved with nautical paws who have the dog bowls outside their businesses and the benches strategically spaced along our main street. On our website and Facebook page we will highlight visitors and residents who have visited with their dogs and will have decals telling them where to post their pictures.
What do you hope to achieve through this project?
Nautical Paws is a program initiated by Rogers City Main Street with the goal of increasing dog-friendliness in Rogers City. As of 2020, 45% of American households own at least one dog. It is a trend which is becoming increasingly important for attracting new visitors and residents to a community. People treat their pets like members of their family. Dog-friendliness is one of the first aspects of a community which dog owners check before moving or visiting. For Rogers City, a community where every day dog walkers are in our downtown and at our events we must make our downtown a more dog friendly area. We hope to do this my putting Rogers City Main Street branded dog bowls at down town businesses, providing Nautical Paws bandanas and a mural photo location for dog owners to take a picture and post to social media with their pets and to but benches where our community members and visitors to rest with their pooches. Our benches will have an area you can clip a leash to so that you can sit with your dog and enjoy a moment in front of one of our downtown businesses.
How will the project celebrate the community’s diversity? Diversity can include different ages, races, cultures, socio-economic statuses, abilities, and more.
In Rogers City we have a diverse community from employment, age and belief structures but one thing that residents and visitors young and old embrace is the outdoors and they particularly love exploring town with their dogs. There isn’t a time of day that you can’t see someone walking their dog (or five) on our main street. People love to stop and engage with the dogs. One of our local café’s has a doggie spot with a secure outdoor space with water where you can let your dog hang out while you are in the café.
What resources do you already have to make this project successful? Resources could include things like time, partners, expertise, donated goods/materials/space, matching funds, and more. Please approximate the in-kind value if possible.
Matching funds come from the main street board, local donors & businesses. The city is also putting in more winter trash cans and doggie clean up bag stations in order to support our dog visitors.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Artist First and Last Name:
Lori J. Acre
Artist Facebook Handle
lorijoacre
Describe the artist’s or artists’ work. This is not about credentials—what do they do as an artist?
She is a painter and works with other artists in our community. Her work is a vibrant celebration of flowers and other natural objects.
How will the artist be involved in this project?
She will be involved in the design of the Nautical Paws items to make sure they coordinate with the other aspects of design the Main Street Design committee is adding downtown.
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
Business 1: Business Name:
Domaci Gallery
Business 1: Business Type:
Retail
Business 1: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Tim Pritchard
Business 1: Physical Location Address
169 N 3rd St, Rogers City, MI 49779
Business 1: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 1: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
domacigallery
Business 1: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
How will this partner be involved in the project?
Tim is the Chair of the Rogers City Main Street Design Committee and a member of the Downtown Development Association/Main Street Board. He is a business owner who supports the arts and culture in this community. His business is an anchor of Main Street and is actively involved in the artwalks and other activities going on downtown. He will manage the funds for the project and ensure we stay on track with our budget.
Business 2: Business Name:
Amyzing Pet Salon
Business 2: Business Type:
Service
Business 2: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Amy Pasquinelli
Business 2: Business Physical Location Address:
144 S 3rd St, Rogers City, MI 49779
Business 2: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 2: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
Amyzingpetsalon
Business 2: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
How will this second partner be involved in the project?
Amyzing Pet Salon is our local pooch friendly salon for all of our dog grooming needs. Located right on Main street she takes care of many of the dogs in our community. She is a hub for communication with dog families who live in and are visiting Rogers City. She will be a partner in providing information to the dog family community, being actively involved in the dog events, and having a rest and recovery station on the sidewalk in front of her building.
Do you have additional partners (business, non-profit, etc.)?
Yes
What are their names?
Rogers City Main Street
What role(s) will they have in the project?
They are spearheading this project to help facilitate support for a community that sometimes hesitates to come to our downtown because we need to become more dog friendly but having benches, water bowels and signage will make it clear that we are a dog friendly downtown.
Are they located within the same downtown or business district as the project?
Yes, in Rogers City our “Main Street” is actually 3rd Street, which is where we will be putting these dog bowls and benches. Also, our partner businesses are located on 3rd street in downtown.
Will your local municipal government be involved in the project? If so, how?
Rogers City Main Street, the DDA, and the City Council are all big supporters of this program. Volunteers who are leading this program also serve on various committees for Main Street or the Downtown Development Authority.
Please upload a letter of support on letterhead for your project from your local governing body (mayor, city/village manager, city/village council member).
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IMAGE UPLOADS
Image Caption 1 (if any): Pet Salon Partner & site of future rest station
Image 1 (if any):
Image Caption 2 (if any): Cafe with doggie park and wait station
Image 2 (if any):
Image Caption 3 (if any): Domaci Gallery and site of doggie rest station
Image 3 (if any):
Image Caption 4 (if any): Domaci Gallery and Woodland Confectionary Bench location
Image 4 (if any):
Image Caption 5 (if any):
Image 5 (if any):