April News

April 2024 - Issue 22

Cheboygan Main Street News

Our Main Street program is powered by an amazing army of volunteers. This group of fun, talented, creative and generous people with get it done attitudes has propelled our efforts to incredible heights. Although we appreciate and acknowledge these awesome people throughout the year, April (National Volunteer Month) is the perfect time for us to dedicate to really celebrating those behind the momentum!

May 18, 2024

Shine Up Cheboygan

Event Details

June 13 - August 29

Music on Main

Summer Concert Series

Event Details

Our Main Street program is built on the dedication of volunteers that are passionate about their community, that understand that Downtown is the heart of the community, and know that when Main Street is thriving, the ripples of success wave out into the whole community! Do you love Cheboygan and want to help make a difference in our community? Do you have ideas, talents, or just the desire to become involved? Main Street Cheboygan has a place for you! There are no time requirements for volunteers, just help out where and when you can.

Cheboygan Main Street DDA

Board Meetings

Eric Villanueva, Chair

evillanueva@cheboygan.org

3rd Tuesday 6pm City Hall

Council Chambers

Outreach Committee

Bobie Crongeyer, Chair

bcrongeyer@cheboygan.org

4th Monday 6pm Cheboygan Library

Events Committee

Hayley Dodd/ Carole Yeck, Co-Chairs

hdodd@cheboygan.org

carole@cheboygan.com

3rd Wednesday 4pm City Hall

Council Chambers

Business Development Committee

Carole Yeck, Chair

carole@cheboygan.com

quarterly meetings

Placemaking Committee

evillanueva@cheboygan.org

2nd Wednesday 4:30pm City Hall

Council Chambers

Farmers Market Committee

Travis Neumann, Market Master

cheboyganfarmersmarket@gmail.com

contact committee chair for details

Coast Guard Connection Committee

Sherry Nelson/ Joanne Cromley

sherrynels@aol.com

contact committee chair for details

How do I volunteer?

Follow this link for information

Upcoming Volunteer

Opportunities

May 18

Shine Up Cheboygan

July 4

Independence Day

Parade

September 2

Labor Day State St

Bridge Walk

Mid September

Fall Decorating

October 31

Downtown Trick or Treating

Mid November

Holiday Decorating

December 7

Parade of Lights/

Tree Lighting

Attention Volunteers!

Wednesday April 17 - Hive North

Volunteer Night Out

Join us for an evening of appreciation, opportunity and community building as we celebrate all of our incredible Main Street volunteers! Free and open to anyone who has, does and might volunteer with our team in the future - this evening is all about you! There will be appetizers, cash bar, live entertainment and some fun surprises! Questions call Main Street Director Polly Schneider at 231-627-9931 or email pschneider@cheboygan.org

Discover Downtown Cheboygan

at the Discover Cheboygan Business Expo & Taste of the Straits

Stop by the Downtown Cheboygan/ Cheboygan Main Street booth at the Cheboygan Chamber of Commerce Business Expo & Taste of the Straits on Thursday April 25th from 3pm - 8pm at the Cheboygan Ice Pavilion.

We'll have swag, info on upcoming events, projects and more!

See you at the expo!

3rd Annual Downtown Cheboygan Easter Egg Hunt a Success

Cheboygan Main Street hosted the 3rd Annual Downtown Cheboygan Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Bishop Automotive and Straits Area Federal Credit Union on Saturday March 30th.

Main Street volunteers hid over 4,000 Easter eggs filled with candy, stickers and more. Special thanks to Ramsby Drilling who donated over 2,900 eggs and many community members that donated to the hunt as well.

Over 350 people attended the event which was held for kids up to 5 in Washington Park and for kids 6 and up at Major City Park.

Save the Date for Next Year

Saturday April 19, 2025

Above photos compliments of our friends at The Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce

Inaugural Wee St. Patrick's Day Parade Was a Hit

Saturday March 16th the Cheboygan Main Street DDA held it's Inaugural Wee St. Patrick's Day Parade which was sponsored by Bishop Automotive and Cheboygan Brewing Company.

It is estimated that about 100 people came out to enjoy the parade that flowed from Pine St to The Opera House. Parade entries passed out fun St. Patrick's Day swag, candy and Downtown Cheboygan re-useable shopping bags to the viewers.

Trophies were given for:

Most Creative Entry

Largest Group

Best Overall Kids Entry

& Leprechaun's Choice

This event was planned and powered by Cheboygan Main Street Volunteers!

Click Here for Photo Gallery

by Jared Greenleaf/ Cheboygan Daily Tribune

Save the Date for Next Year

Saturday March 15, 2025

Cheboygan, One of Nine Michigan Communities to Receive Main Street Vibrancy Grants

LANSING, Mich. -- Today Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that nine communities around Michigan have been awarded a total of 200,000 in grants to support downtown enhancement and improvement projects. Communities receiving Main Street Vibrancy grants are Cheboygan, Wayland, Lapeer, Downtown Lansing Inc., Three Rivers, Saline, Mexicantown, Grosse Pointe, and North End.

“Thriving, attractive downtowns are vital to creating unique places where people want to live, work, visit, and play,” said Governor Whitmer. “Today’s grants for 9 downtowns across Michigan will help these communities grow their economies, support local small businesses, and improve quality of life. Together, we will continue our comprehensive economic development strategy of investing in people, places, and projects. Let’s get this done so anyone can ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

(photo of Downtown Three Rivers, Michigan)

Click Here for Full Press Release

Special Main Street Volunteer Appreciation

E-Newsletter Coming Soon

As part of our National Volunteer Month celebrations, we are putting together a e-newsletter focusing on all things volunteer.

We'll be featuring stories, quotes, projects completed by volunteers, opportunities to get involved as a volunteer and more!

Keep an eye on our Downtown Cheboygan Facebook page throughout the month of April for special recognition of many of our volunteers and some fun facts.

Mark your calendar for our Volunteer Night Out Appreciation Event which will be held on Wednesday April 17th from 6pm - 8pm at Hive North!

Cheboygan Riverfront/ Water Street Corridor Project

In May of 2023, the Cheboygan Main Street DDA partnered with the MSU School of Planning, Design & Construction to create a vision for the Cheboygan Riverfront/ Water Street Corridor. The program is called the Sustainable Built Environment Initiative or SBEI.

Throughout the process (see timeline to the left), the community was invited to participate with thoughts, ideas, comments and feedback. The SBEI Team compiled the feedback, presented design recommendations and helped to prioritize elements of the vision.

Quite the Bustling Hub

Do you want to see a great cross section of Cheboygan residents and visitors to our city? Stop into the Cheboygan Coffee Roasters shop. It can be quite the bustling hub. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick drink, bite to eat, cafe date, or meeting, you’re not far from an opportunity to connect deeper with our community. As a barista and roaster, the regulars I see almost every day are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. And I can’t even begin to describe the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I see them greeting an old friend they haven’t seen in a while. The chances of them crossing paths all came down to one shared love---a good cup of joe.

It’s an honor to be part of Cheboygan’s rebirth, to help create a space for positive experiences, and a comfortable place to exist as a community. My personal goal has been to put a smile on the face of every person that comes through our doors, but I’m ending up with my own smiles just as big by the end of each interaction.

Click Here for Full Article

Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of Small-Town Retail Businesses

In the picturesque small towns that dot the map of our country, a quiet revolution is taking place behind the quaint storefronts and charming facades of retail businesses. While the owners receive accolades for their entrepreneurial spirit and vision, there is a group of unsung heroes who toil behind the scenes. Their hard work and dedication is often unnoticed.

These little-known employees are the backbone of small businesses-the employees who keep the shops running smoothly, the ones who greet customers with a smile, help them find the perfect outfit or accessory, and ensure that the shelves and racks are stocked. Also, they keep the stores clean and inviting.

From the florist who meticulously places each flower to look just right, to the sales associates who go above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service, these individuals play a vital role in the success of small-town retail businesses.

Click Here for Full Article

Main Street articles are coordinated by Sherry Nelson, volunteer of the Main Street Outreach Committee & shared widely by Bring it! Cheboygan and Cheboygan Main Street.

These articles are published in the Weekly Choice Newspaper.

Cheboygan Main Street Needs You!

Have you ever attended an event and thought it would be fun to get involved with the planning and prep? How about thinking to yourself while walking or driving Downtown that something could be added or changed to make it a bit more festive or easy to navigate?

We've got several opportunities for you to get involved with all of these things. Volunteering with our Main Street team can be as easy as helping to line-up the entries for parades, or dropping off posters at businesses or as involved as signing up to chair a specific event, or help decorate for the seasons.

The Main Street team is a diverse group of business owners, young professionals, retired people who love Downtown, families and students. We always have fun, our projects and events always benefit our community and best of all, you choose how much time you can give! Click Here to Sign-up to Volunteer Let us know what you like to do and we'll get you connected with one of our committee's.

Sign-up for Community Buzz

Subscribe to the City's

E-Newsletter

"Community Buzz"

This e-newsletter has information about upcoming events, new projects beginning within the City, details on infrastructure improvements and more.

The newsletter will be sent monthly with additional news blasts as needed. This will be an easy way to keep track of yard waste pick-up schedules for the Fall and Spring, which sections of infrastructure are being worked on, if there is a run water request from our Water Department, meeting dates and times and more.

Mark your calendars for some really great events!

If you have an event you would like us to share in our monthly Cheboygan Main Street e-newsletter, please contact Main St Director Polly Schneider at pschneider@cheboygan.org

Friday April 5, 2024 - Step Inn

Cheboygan Main Street Coffee Talk

Join us for Coffee Talk, the first Friday of each month.

Stop by, grab a cup and let's catch up!

Cheboygan Main Street DDA will be there to answer questions, listen to ideas/ suggestions, share what we are working on and more!

Wednesday April 17 - Hive North

Volunteer Night Out

Join us for an evening of appreciation, opportunity and community building as we celebrate all of our incredible Main Street volunteers! Free and open to anyone who has, does and might volunteer with our team in the future - this evening is all about you! 6pm - 8pm at Hive North. Appetizers, cash bar and live entertainment