Project Name: Battle Alley Spruce Up
ABOUT THE APPLICANT
Are you applying as a:
DDA or CID
What is the entity’s name:
Main Street Holly
Website URL
https://www.mainstreetholly.com/
Twitter Handle
Facebook Handle
Mainstreet Holly
Instagram Handle
hollydda
What is the name of the primary contact for this entity’s application/project?
Nick Klempp
What are their preferred pronouns?
He/him/his
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Where will your project take place? (please include city/village too)
Battle Alley social district in the Village of Holly
Anticipated project launch date
July 27, 2023
Briefly describe your project idea including your role and any project partners.
The Battle Alley Social District is a pedestrian only area in the heart of our downtown and the main section of our Battle Alley place making strategy. We would like to utilize the area more to draw people to our downtown and our small businesses and restaurants.
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.
We would like to use the microgrant money to help purchase more amenities for the pedestrian only area to make it more usable and people friendly. The area creates an ambiance for our downtown that can attract people to see all it offers. We recently had a fire in our downtown that devastated much our our pedestrian flower pots and most of the trees that once shaded the area. We would like to purchase more pots for flowers as well as bigger trees so that we can bring more shade into the area again and make the area look visually appealing and comfortable for those that utilize the area and not have to worry about the trees wrecking the sidewalks again. We would also like to purchase a permanent outdoor stage to be used by events and festivals that take place in the area like our twice a month open mic night, our Hollydays festival, and First Friday events like Galentines, Arts in the Alley, Ladies Weekend Out, and Witches Night Out. We would also like to purchase some portable equipment that can be dedicated for that use. We would also like to purchase more umbrellas for our tables in the alley to help with shading as well.
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
Confirmed member status. Confirmed business locations. Confirmed LOS. Lacking a strong artistic element. Appears artist would be playing music at forthcoming (unrelated?) events.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Why does your community need this project?
The Village of Holly is a smaller area of under 6,000 residents and our budget makes it difficult to add amenities like this to our area. Also, as a small area our small businesses were impacted greatly the last few years with the combination of COVID, the downturn in the economy and then, this past summer, a devastating fire that destroyed several historic buildings and much of Battle Alley and made it difficult to even have events in the area. We are hoping by adding more activity and ambiance to the area we can start to attract people to the area again.
How will you engage your community in this project?
The whole purpose of this is to have a place for community to engage in together again. The events that are held in the Alley as well as the social district are to bring people together and celebrate our community and give them a way to participate in the events in our community. Also, for our Arts in the Alley event we have interactive art projects for kids and their families to take part in.
What do you hope to achieve through this project?
Our goal is to draw more people to our downtown area and to enjoy community together. To have fun and relax with one another and most importantly to draw people to our area businesses and restaurants. We want this to be a place that people can come and discover for the first time or enjoy many times, the ambiance and charm of Holly.
How will the project celebrate the community’s diversity? Diversity can include different ages, races, cultures, socio-economic statuses, abilities, and more.
By adding these and other amenities to Battle Alley we will create a place that all can enjoy despite age, race, abilities or status. It will be a gathering place for all and give a platform for anyone to show off their talents or just enjoy the sense of community in the alley.
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.
We already have tables and chairs for the outdoor seating and businesses in the area to support the activity.As a partnership with the DDA there will be help with needed funds and advertising. We already have a community group that is ready to help plan events and the use of the Village DPW to setup
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Artist First and Last Name:
Peter Stouffer
Describe the artist’s or artists’ work. This is not about credentials—what do they do as an artist?
Peter is a musician an of many talents and sings as well
How will the artist be involved in this project?
Peter is the organizer/volunteer of our open mic nights as well as the main mc and performs as well.
Are there other artists involved in this project?
Yes
What are their names and what sort of art form do they practice?
There are many that will be involved
How will they be involved in the project?
Artists will be involved at each of the events, from musicians to visual artists, Djs and even small plays during our festivals.
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
Business 1: Business Name:
Holly Cafe
Business 1: Business Type:
Restaurant
Business 1: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Cari Cucksey
Business 1: Physical Location Address
204 S. Saginaw Holly MI 48442
Business 1: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
The Holly Cafe
How will this partner be involved in the project?
Cari is a part of our promotions committee and helps to plan out events that happen in our downtown, including events in Battle Alley. Her restaurant is also one of our social district participants.
Business 2: Business Name:
Altered Designs
Business 2: Business Type:
Retail
Business 2: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Holly Herrick
Business 2: Business Physical Location Address:
101 South Saginaw Holly MI 48442
Business 2: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
altereddesigns101
How will this second partner be involved in the project?
Holly is a part of our promotions committee and helps to plan out events that happen in our downtown, including events in Battle Alley.
Do you have additional partners (business, non-profit, etc.)?
Yes
What are their names?
Battle Alley Coffee- Linda Stouffer
Ziggys Ice Cream Kate White
What role(s) will they have in the project?
Their shops are in Battle Alley and will help in planning of the events in Battle Alley
Are they located within the same downtown or business district as the project?
Yes
Will your local municipal government be involved in the project? If so, how?
Yes. They are supportive of completing the project and will help by providing assistance in setting up by their DPW
Please upload a letter of support on letterhead for your project from your local governing body (mayor, city/village manager, city/village council member).
https://mmlfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/19/Jerry-Walker-support-letter-1.docx
IMAGE UPLOADS
Image Caption 1 (if any): Battle Alley
Image 1 (if any):
Image Caption 2 (if any): Witches Night event in Battle Alley
Image 2 (if any):
Image Caption 3 (if any): Teen dance in Battle Alley
Image 3 (if any):
Image Caption 4 (if any): Pet Palooza event in Battle Alley
Image 4 (if any):
Image Caption 5 (if any): Downtown Fire in Battle Alley this last summer
Image 5 (if any):
