Ironwood launches crowdfunding campaign to support new Art Park

$10,000 goal to secure matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

Lansing, Mich. – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the city of Ironwood, Downtown Ironwood Development Authority, Downtown Art Place, and the Historic Ironwood Theater today announced a new crowdfunding campaign through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity to help build a new downtown Art Park. 

“The Ironwood Art Park will be a great addition to the city by providing a creative destination that will bring the community together,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “The Public Spaces Community Places initiative, one of the first of its kind in the country, is a great opportunity for residents, businesses, and others to pool resources and actively engage to transform public spaces in their communities.” 
The Art Park will be located on Aurora Street between Mattson’s TV and Appliance and Book World across from the Downtown Art Place and Historic Ironwood Theater. It will provide a public location to display art, hold performances and art classes, and promote arts and culture within the city. The park will also be available for public functions and events put on by the city and other area organizations. 
If the campaign attains its crowdfunding goal of $10,000 by December 6, MEDC will provide a $10,000 matching grant. For project details and to contribute, please visit: https://www.patronicity.com/project/city_of_ironwood_art_park. 

Money raised through the crowdfunding campaign and MEDC matching grant will help fund construction elements of the park that will include a concrete sidewalk and performance area, art and sculpture display areas, a mural wall, benches, tables, landscaping, and a parking lot.

“This is a great opportunity for community members to be part of a public project that will benefit the entire community and provide a place for arts and culture to be experienced in the public realm,” said Ironwood Community Development Director Michael Brown. 

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity where local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of transformational projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, non-profits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan. 

"Ironwood is a very active League member community that has long embraced the concept of creating vibrant places with in its community to attract and retain residents," said League CEO and Executive Director Dan Gilmartin. "This crowdfunding project will help them continue their outstanding placemaking work." 

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.