The State of Michigan this week announced several new programs to receive state support and incentives for local development. One project, supported by Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, is located in Cheboygan.

Cheboygan Main Street plans to develop an empty building on Main St. in downtown Cheboygan into several new apartments with commercial space on the first floor, including a theater and a new dedicated Stormy Kromer retail outlet.

“I worked with state officials and the Cheboygan Chamber of Commerce in support of this project because I believe in Cheboygan, and I believe in this community’s future as it continues to grow and create opportunities for people all across the region,” said Chatfield, of Levering. “Downtown Cheboygan is a strong community with great potential, and our state and local governments should be doing all we can to support the city and the people of northern Michigan.”

The project also qualified for the state’s “Michigan Main Street” program, which grants the City of Cheboygan special access to technical assistance and expert guidance on economic development and job creation for the next five years. Boyne City, Charlevoix, Grayling, and Sault Ste. Marie have also recently qualified for the program.

“New developments do more than just create jobs and raise the property values for local families. They also create stronger communities and build more interesting places to live and work. Cheboygan is a growing city that still has a lot of room for new opportunities and new investment. With the right plan, there’s no telling what kind of positive changes we could see in the next few years.”