Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for the Murals on Main Festival in Downtown Rogers City

$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – Rogers City Main Street DDA will bring a week-long mural festival with international and local artists to create five new public art installations to Downtown Rogers City through the anticipated success of a new crowdfunding campaign. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Rogers City Main Street, and the Rogers City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) announced the campaign today, which is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.  

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by June 15th, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/MoM. 

“Murals on Main will be an incredible source of inspiration and beauty in Rogers City,” said MEDC Regional Prosperity Managing Director Paula Holtz. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.” 

Murals on Main is a mural festival spearheaded by the Rogers City Main Street program and includes professionals with backgrounds in art, design, law, marketing, events, finance, and entertainment. The group is raising funds to bring in national, international, and local artists to activate unused walls at five locations in the downtown.  

The Murals on Main Festival will be a week-long celebration with events, opportunities to engage with the artists, do some artwork of your own, and watch the murals take shape. This project was inspired and mentored by the Bright Walls Festival in Jackson, MI, a previous PSCP-supported project. This model of public art generating economic development showcases how arts and festivals drive economic vitality and create a more vibrant and resilient downtown. 

"Rogers City’s Murals on Main will have a huge positive impact on our community, bringing visitors from far and wide to enjoy world-renowned artists' paintings,” said Rogers City Mayor Scott McLennon. “The murals will be completed; events and entertainment will be ongoing for all to enjoy during this multi day festival! It’s all about building vibrancy within our downtown."   

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

“Arts and cultural events like this mural festival in Rogers City are a great way to bring a community together,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “Shared experiences like this help a community grow and thrive, and not just from an economic standpoint. It provides the community with opportunities to learn about one another and the world around them.” 

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of April 10, 2024, MEDC has provided more than $12.4 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 374 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $14 million raised from 68,683 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning matching funds. 

 

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.