Project Name: Nautical Paws
What is your first and last name?
Alex Harimoto
What are your preferred pronouns?
He/him/his
What city or village do you live in?
[534]Does your neighborhood have a name? If so what is it?
[535]Are you connected with anyone in your local government?
[536]Are you applying as a business owner, artist, non-profit, DDA, or Commercial Improvement District?
[280]Where will your project take place?
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.
Briefly describe your project idea:
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 will you be involved in this project? Who will you worth with?
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.
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.
Please upload a letter of support for your project from your local governing body:
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Additional Attachments (if any)
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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.
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 do you plan to spend the $5,000 microgrant?
Artist $200
Dog bowls $600
Bandanas $500
Nautical Paws Signs $800
Benches $2300
Doggie Bags $300
Dog leash hooks $300
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.
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
Anticipated project launch date:
August 1, 2023
Will you serve as the primary point of contact for this application?
[291]Lead Artist First and Last Name:
Lori J. Acre
Lead Artist Website (If Applicable):
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)
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)
Business 3: Business Name:
[325]Business 3: Business Type:
[507]Business 3: Business Owner First and Last Name:
[326]Business 3: Physical Location Address
[327]Business 3: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
[374]Business 3: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
[373]Business 3: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
[383]Please list the names of any additional partners:
[336]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):