Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2010

CONTACT: Matt Bach
Dir. of Communications
Michigan Municipal League
(734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org

St. Ignace Wins Region 7 Community Excellence Nomination

Community Now in Running for Statewide Michigan Municipal League Honor

ISPHEMING, Michigan (May 20, 2010) – The City of St. Ignace was selected as the regional finalist in a statewide competition that recognizes outstanding community services, projects and programs. St. Ignace was chosen from among Upper Peninsula (U.P.) communities for its unique partnership project in developing a new, permanent bus station that included the city, Indian Trails, Inc., the Michigan Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Transportation. The selection took place following the Michigan Municipal League’s Region 7 Education Seminar May 12-14 in Ispheming.

The City of St. Ignace will now compete for the statewide Community Excellence Award to be announced during the Michigan Municipal League’s Annual Convention Sept. 21-24, 2010, in Dearborn. The new bus facility handles the transfer of passengers on the state-supported intercity bus routes in the U.P. with the state-supported intercity bus routes in the northern Lower Peninsula. The new station is the northern-most terminal for daily bus service throughout Michigan, linking nearly 150 communities throughout the state.

St. Ignace City Manager Eric Dodson said, “Public transit is an essential component of Michigan’s economic future. St. Ignace is ecstatic to be the link and the host for people traveling not only across our beautiful Upper Peninsula, but our entire state.” Dodson says public transit is a statewide economic driver and the city benefits economically from the station as well.

Built by the city of St. Ignace and MDOT, the $1.7 million state-of-the-art facility was financed with a combination of state and federal funds. The city owns and provides a 20-year lease on the building, located at 700 West US-2 at Church Road.

Other regional projects of note included:

Baraga for its “Super Supplier Network” that jointly markets 10 local businesses.
L’Anse for its MEDC/MDOT collaboration providing for the retention and creation of jobs.

Michigan Municipal League President Jeff Jenks stated, “Upper Peninsula communities are innovative and resilient. Transit projects like this demonstrate appreciation for rural communities while recognizing the undeniable importance of being connected to urban hubs such as Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee.”

Others attending the Region 7 event included officials from the communities of Norway, Ishpeming, Iron River, Stephenson, Bessemer, Calumet, Wakefield, Marquette, St. Ignace, Caspian, Baraga, Galdstone, Wakefield, Ontonagon, L’Anse, Sterling Heights and Sault Ste. Marie. The League’s Region 7 includes the following counties: Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft.

Other regional nominees selected so far include the City of Monroe (Region 1) for a National Park project and the City of Saginaw (Region 4) for a recycling effort.

More information:
For photos from the Region 7 seminar, including a tour of a historic Ispheming mine, go to flickr.com/michigancommunities.

View another press release from the event here.

Photo caption: In the photo above, officials from St. Ignace participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the community's new bus station.

The Michigan Municipal League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services.

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