The village of Michigamme will see some much needed improvements before the end of the year.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation granted over $300,000 to the village to improve the streetscapes on Max Street between M-28 and Lake Street and Main Street between Gaylord and Mill.

Jen Tucker, with the MEDC, said, “Out of all 45 projects the total community block grant fund request ended up being just over $18 million. 14, only, of those 45 projects were approved, Michigamme being one of them.”

The project will include putting in new street lamps, rain garden planters, new sidewalks, ADA corner ramps, gateway signs and storm ditches on the roadsides. Now that Michigamme has the grant the village can move forward.

Alvar Maki, Michigamme Township Supervisor, said, “The next step is to have the engineering professional finish the design, finish picking all the options that’ll be there and then they put it out to bid for private contractors to bid on it.”

Construction is expected to begin in July, with an estimated completion in October. Maki sees this grant as the first step toward downtown Michigamme’s revitalization.

The hope is to eventually restore some of the rundown buildings and have more people come in and set up shop.