Project Name: Vassar’s Whimsical Welcome
ABOUT THE APPLICANT
Are you applying as a:
DDA or CID
What is the entity’s name:
Vassar DDA
Website URL
Twitter Handle
Facebook Handle
Instagram Handle
What is the name of the primary contact for this entity’s application/project?
Andrea McArthur
What are their preferred pronouns?
She/her/hers
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Where will your project take place? (please include city/village too)
139 E. Huron Avenue, the City of Vassar-on the side of Living Wonders Gifts.
Anticipated project launch date
September 4, 2023
Briefly describe your project idea including your role and any project partners.
The Vassar DDA is honored to have the opportunity to tell you about the beautiful addition in the works for a prominent Downtown Vassar Building. The idea is simple yet striking: Adorn the side of 139 E. Huron Ave. with a Whimsical Welcome! Situated in historic Downtown, this is the PERFECT canvas!
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.
If awarded, this $5,000 microgrant will be used to partially fund (additional funding will come from local business owners) the installation of a tremendous mural. This funding will be used to purchase paint and other materials, as well as to compensate local artist, Makenzie Clouse, for her design and work. This mural will be whimsical and painted in the style of other “GREETINGS FROM…” City mural-featuring elements of our city. It will cover the side of 139 E. Huron Ave., Vassar.-from roots to roof.
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 4.20.23. Confirmed member status. Cannot confirm artist. Confirmed businesses are downtown and local. Confirmed viable project location. Confirmed artist will be paid. Confirmed LOS. NOTE: we awarded a neighborhood microgrant to this applicant (same name, same granting entity the City of Vassar) previously. Jurors, please weigh the merit of this application against this history.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Why does your community need this project?
The City of Vassar is situated along the M15 Heritage Route. We enjoy lots of out-of-town traffic and visitors from near and far. We want to let folks know they have arrived in a warm, welcoming, city! As this mural will be painted on a highly visible, downtown building, it will be a joy for residents and passersby alike! We already have other downtown business owners on board to help with funding and see this project through. This grant would certainly ease the financial weight on our downtown small business owners.
How will you engage your community in this project?
The Vassar DDA will be launching a new Facebook Page this spring. We will also be hosting a block party to kick off a fun, new, scavenger hunt type activity that, with any luck, will drive foot traffic to our Downtown businesses. The goal is to bring all of these exciting pieces together and take our downtown to a new level. We would announce and promote this mural endeavor on the new DDA page and the City’s Facebbok page as well. We will invite folks to head downtown and watch the progress in realtime.
What do you hope to achieve through this project?
It’s amazing what a few visual elements can say about a city. The existance of a mural on a downtown building ‘waves’ at visitors. Painting a mural on the building that we intend to embellish will ‘shout’ at visitors…”HELLO and WELCOME!” You are in a space that offers something new and something familiar. It also says there are people in this town that care and are fun and want to see wonderful things happen for their community. Visitors and residents will feel that there is life in the downtown…all from some colors on some bricks. How powerful! That’s our goal!
How will the project celebrate the community’s diversity? Diversity can include different ages, races, cultures, socio-economic statuses, abilities, and more.
We love that the genre of this whimsical greeting is both nostalgic and modern. It gives the feel of a tourist area while having a small town vibe. We can offer the same feeling that all American small towns offer AND be unique at the same time. That’s our community; same but different! We all work, and laugh, and play, and want to have a good time in a safe place…yet we all come from different walks of life and different backgrounds and have incredibly unique experiences. Same. But different.
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 Vassar DDA’s proverbial ball is rolling! We have an artist and matching funds ready to go! The artist is a local mom/cheer and gymnastics coach that has been KILLIN’ it all over town with her work. She has already helped the DDA with one project and we can’t wait to work with her again.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Artist First and Last Name:
Makenzie Clouse
Describe the artist’s or artists’ work. This is not about credentials—what do they do as an artist?
What doesn’t Makenzie do?! She is the go-to for storefront window painting downtown, has painted a textured mural inside of Little Wonders Resale, and has completed murals for the Tuscola Youth Gym!
How will the artist be involved in this project?
Makenzie will work with the Vassar DDA to come up with the perfect GREETINGS FROM VASSAR design. She will sketch a draft and paint the mural onto the building. She is our start-to-finish-artist!
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
Business 1: Business Name:
IRD Homes
Business 1: Business Type:
Service
Business 1: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Corey Haubenstricker
Business 1: Physical Location Address
164 E Huron Ave.
Business 1: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
https://www.facebook.com/IRDHomes
Business 1: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
https://www.instagram.com/irdhomes/?hl=en
How will this partner be involved in the project?
As the owner of this building (139 E Huron Ave.), and a Vassar DDA member, Corey has committed to help fund this creative addition.
Business 2: Business Name:
Little Wonders Resale & Living Life Gifts
Business 2: Business Type:
Retail
Business 2: Business Owner First and Last Name:
JoAnne Sayles Monchilov
Business 2: Business Physical Location Address:
139 E. Huron Ave.
Business 2: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066757883547
How will this second partner be involved in the project?
JoAnne is the DDA’s newest member and she is on FIRE! She came to us with positivity and PIZZAZ! She has wonderful ideas for our downtown and is on board with this project. She has ideas for the design and so much passion. The planned mural will be on the side of her business so she is prepared to do what is needed to help see the project through (social media posts, store events, newspaper articles-she is our cheerleader FOR SURE!! WOOO!)
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?
The City is definitely behind us on this project! The folks at City Hall have always worked hand-in-hand with the DDA and will no doubt be available with any issues or questions that arise. We have already obtained permission to move along with this project.
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/City-of-Vassar-Letter-of-Support-Whimsical-Welcome-2023.pdf
IMAGE UPLOADS
Image Caption 1 (if any): As promised, this building offers the PERFECT canvas. Broadside facing M-15. Can you imagine our WHIMSICAL WELCOME here?
Image 1 (if any):
Image Caption 2 (if any): What a wonderful spot for a WHIMSICAL WELCOME! Right next to our most popular eatery, right across from our Historical Theatre, and smack in the middle of the DDA District!
Image 2 (if any):
Image Caption 3 (if any): Here is the genre we are thinking…close to this. Each letter captures a different element of our City.
Image 3 (if any):
Image Caption 4 (if any): Here is another example of what we are leaning towards. What a VIBRANT greeting!
Image 4 (if any):
Image Caption 5 (if any):
Image 5 (if any):