The April 8 meeting of the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority included discussion of topics the EDA would like to consider at every meeting— introduction of a new business in the city of Grand Marais and citizens with ideas for affordable housing in the county.
Oddz & Endz business incubator
Sharon Bloomquist, Arvis Thompson, Lisa Bloomquist and Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux were at the EDA meeting to explain their new venture, Oddz & Endz. Thompson said they represent a team of people who have formed a nonprofit organization to operate a “repurpose, reuse or recycle retail store.”
“We see ourselves as taking what people don’t need—furniture, lawn mowers, small appliances, etc.—and finding a home for these things,” said Thompson. “We want to take that coffee table that looks like a rat trap and turn it into something you would like to see in your living room,” she said.
And similar to the 1st & 2nd Thrift Store, volunteers will do the work, earning money for a community nonprofit of their choosing.
EDA Board Member Hal Greenwood asked if this would be competition for the very successful 1st & 2nd Thrift Store. Sharon Bloomquist said no. “The gap in the community, what is really needed, is furniture. Arvis and I have been doing this already, ‘taking in’ furniture and turning around and giving it back out.”
Thompson added, “We’ve talked to Lois Johnson [of 1st & 2nd]. They don’t want to handle furniture—we don’t want to handle clothing, so we will work well together.”
Oddz & Endz will be housed in the former Howling Wolf Saloon, which was most recently home to the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op as it was being rebuilt.
That is something the EDA should be pleased with, said Sharon Bloomquist. “The building is the last thing people see going out of town to the west and the first thing they see coming into town from the west. It doesn’t look good to have an empty building sitting there. We’d like it to be a showcase,” she said.
A showcase full of businesses, said Thompson. She said the plan is to have a number of businesses renting the space. The Oddz & Endz business plan hopes to have seven enterprises in the building. “Those seven people will be on the board,” said Thompson. “They will know what it costs for the building, for heat, water, gravel for the parking lot. We’ll work together. We’re not in it to make a profit, proceeds will go to the purchase of the building— and back to the community.”
Plans also call for using the space that was once a bar as a demonstration area. Businesses without a storefront can use the space to demonstrate their products.
“Take Lisa Bloomquist, for example. She can come in and set up a display and talk to people about her products—Awesome Lotions. People can check them out and Lisa can sell them. We’re not going to operate her business, but we will give her space to share them,” said Thompson.
EDA Small Business Consultant Pat Campanaro said she had participated in some of the planning meetings. She said, “The small oneand two-person businesses that have expressed interest are excited about this. There are people who are working in unheated trailers. People who are excited about being able to work with others, to possibly share supplies, etc.”
EDA Board Member Howard Hedstrom said, “EDA stands for economic development, so this is definitely in our wheelhouse. It’s something we’d like to support.”
Hedstrom said the EDA had limited funds for assistance, but noted that Business Consultant Campanaro could lend a hand. Arrowsmith DeCoux, who is working on grants for assistance for the project, said he could use Campanaro’s help with that.
Abby Tofte expressed support, pointing out that this fits well with the EDA’s work to develop affordable housing. “With affordable housing comes the need for furniture. Having spent two weeks looking for a dresser, I can attest that this is needed!”
Affordable housing discussion April 29
Former EDA board member Commissioner Bruce Martinson told the board that he had continued following the affordable housing issue and he had a proposal. He said he would like to see another project like the 2002 Fredenberg Creek development in Schroeder.
The Fredenberg Creek development came to be through a collaboration of the Schroeder township which acted as developer; LTV Mining, which donated the land; and Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation which provided money for infrastructure (roads, septic and power). The township held a lottery for the developed lots and seven of the eight lots now have homes for Schroeder residents.
“I’m looking at trying to repeat that,” said Martinson.
He said an informational meeting on affordable housing and buildable lots will be held on Tuesday, April 29 at Lutsen Resort at 7 p.m.
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