Project Name: Welcome to Bessemer – Our Past Creates Our Future
ABOUT THE APPLICANT
Are you applying as a:
DDA or CID
What is the entity’s name:
Bessemer Downtown Development Authority
What downtown area or business corridor does it serve?
Downtown Bessemer, Michigan
Website URL
Twitter Handle:
Facebook Handle:
https://www.facebook.com/BessemerMich
Instagram Handle:
What is the name of the primary contact for this entity’s application/project?
Samantha Dorr
What are their preferred pronouns?
She/her/hers
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Where will your project take place? (please include city/village too)
Downtown Bessemer, MI – 200 S Sophie St, Bessemer, Michigan 49911
Anticipated project launch date
August 1, 2023
Briefly describe your project idea including your role and any project partners.
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.
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.
$3,000 lead artist and support personnel
$2,000 for materials to create the mural.
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.
No
Rachel’s Notes about the Project
Reviewed 4.24.23. Confirmed member status. Confirmed artist will be paid; cannot confirm artist but did confirm that she’s a teacher. Confirmed viable project location. Confirmed LOS. Confirmed photos. First business is great, second business is not downtown it’s .5 miles away. Question for jury: how do we balance the expectations of the business partners and their locations in relation to the project with the economic reality of the community?
https://www.cityofbessemer.org/government/commissions/dda/
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
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.
How will you engage your community in this project?
1. Working with students – no one spreads the word about a new creative initiative more quicky than young people.
2. With social media and newspaper coverage the artwork project will be in the forefront of the community. We will discuss the design of artwork at a public DDA meeting and invite residents to make suggestions
3. The progress of the mural will be tracked on our web page and Facebook so that all can watch the transformation.
4. When the mural is finished, we will have an event bringing the community together to celebrate their planning and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
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.
How will the project celebrate the community’s diversity? Diversity can include different ages, races, cultures, socio-economic statuses, abilities, and more.
The theme for the mural is celebrating Bessemer’s cultural history.
The building is on main street in the center of downtown. It is an historical early 1900 building passed down through the generations of a Bessemer family.
The location is adjacent to the Ethnic Commons Park that has flags of all the countries of the settlers who created the city of Bessemer. Bessemer started as a small mining and logging town, then grew as more immigrants came to call this place home.
Our community also has a population of varying levels of socioeconomic status. We qualify as a low-moderate income community with many residents struggling to make ends meet. And we have a merging more affluent population with tourism from our summer and winter outdoor activities. The mural will build on what the Ethnic Commons Park represents. Together they will celebrate our history and provide an experience open to anyone traveling (by foot or auto) alongside the building that will house the mural … truly a free interactive experience for everyone. The city is proud to say the Park is ADA accessible as well as access to get next to the mural.
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.
The building location is selected & approved
The artist is in the community
Student and community input is free
DDA volunteers labor and financial support
City staff will coordinate the project
City DPW will donate equipment & labor
Estimate in-kind value $2500 + building & location is priceless
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Artist First and Last Name:
Rachael Hendges
Describe the artist’s or artists’ work. This is not about credentials—what do they do as an artist?
Rachael Hendges is an art teacher at our Bessemer high school. She teaches art in many visual disciplines including painting.
How will the artist be involved in this project?
She will work with her students to create the design and complete the art work. If needed she will be assisted by her professional colleagues. The theme is celebrating Bessemer cultural history.
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
Business 1: Business Name:
General Insurance Agency
Business 1: Business Type:
Insurance on main floor and engineering on second floor
Business 1: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Mark Malmberg
Business 1: Physical Location Address
200 S Sophie St, Bessemer, MI 49911
Business 1: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 1: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
Business 1: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
How will this partner be involved in the project?
1. Provide the location for the mural
2. Assist with promotion
Business 2: Business Name:
Leather and Gift Shop
Business 2: Business Type:
Retail
Business 2: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Ted and Karen Stevens
Business 2: Business Physical Location Address:
410 W Lead St, Bessemer, MI 49911
Business 2: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 2: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057218989546
Business 2: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
How will this second partner be involved in the project?
1. Promote the project and advertise.
2. Co-organizer of the project & participating member of the DDA.
Do you have additional partners (business, non-profit, etc.)?
No
What are their names?
What role(s) will they have in the project?
Are they located within the same downtown or business district as the project?
Will your local municipal government be involved in the project? If so, how?
Yes.
1. Duties of the project will be part of city staff responsibilities
2. City manager and staff will help promote project and events for project
3. Citty DPW will provide some equipment and labor
Please upload a letter of support on letterhead for your project from your local governing body (mayor, city/village manager, city/village council member).
Click the icon(s) below to view. Note that this may download to your computer depending on the file type.
IMAGE UPLOADS
Image Caption 1 (if any): Front of the building facing Main Street with iconic clock
Image 1 (if any):
Image Caption 2 (if any): Mural location on building
Image 2 (if any):
Image Caption 3 (if any): Ethnic Commons adjacent to mural location
Image 3 (if any):
Image Caption 4 (if any): The miner sculpture in Ethnic Commons with the building for the mural behind it
Image 4 (if any):
Image Caption 5 (if any): Letter of support from building owner
Image 5 (if any):
