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June 3, 2004Traverse City named a 'cool city'Grand to fund institute, public art programByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Traverse City earned one of 20 "cool cities" state grants and will use the $100,000 to create a center for artists and entrepreneurs. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has touted an initiative to make Michigan cities "cool" - vibrant spots for young people, where cultural events abound and the economy thrives. To kick-start the governor's plan, 20 neighborhoods and cities will receive $100,000 for projects such as loft apartments in Detroit, an ice-skating rink in Marquette and to establish an Entrepreneurial Institute in Traverse City. The institute will be located on the second floor of the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce and will include gallery space for local artists to display their art. "We are pulling together a number of services that are already being offered but ... using that as a springboard to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set," said Mary Gillett of the Downtown Development Association. The institute will partner with the chamber, Northwestern Michigan College and local government units to counsel artists, musicians, creative professionals and downtown retailers. Its goal is to grow the number of small business start-ups and attract more galleries and niche businesses to the area. The grant will also pay for a public art program to purchase and place art in public spaces. Gillett said details such as how the institute will be staffed and the specific services it will offer need to be worked out. Doug Luciani, executive director of the chamber, said creating a "culture of entrepreneurialship" is crucial to the growth of Traverse City. "This is a project that really meets the spirit of what cool cities is all about - young entrepreneurs, attracting them and building a cultural base that is sustainable," he said. The grant will also open up funding opportunities from other state, regional and national sources, Luciani said. The chamber will charge the institute about half the lease value to rent 4,000 square feet to the institute. The institute will pay an estimated $40,000 a year to the chamber. The chamber will also offer meeting space on the first floor and staff support, Luciani said. Traverse City's project is one of the few that doesn't involve historic preservation or remodeling properties, said David Hollister, director of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth. "It captured people's imagination," Hollister said. "Every project had a wow factor and it really captured what we are trying to do." The institute will "attract and retain young people," said mayor Linda Smyka. "I think this is absolutely one of the more direct ways to do that," she said. "Building infrastructure is one way to do that, but to me this goes right to the heart of the matter." Partners include the city, DDA, chamber of commerce, Northwestern Michigan College, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, Traverse Area Arts Council and Grand Traverse Cultural Coalition and Rotary Charities of Traverse City.
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