Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
ANNE ATWOOD Reimer, left, and Char Brickner, both of Ironwood, talk about a product sold at 906Boom! on Aurora Street in downtown Ironwood.
By TOM STANKARD
Ironwood — Wanting to help area residents, Nancy Korpela started 906Boom! to provide tools and learning resources for the public.
Three years ago, Korpela retired and came back to Ironwood to start a “MakerSpace” as a “support center.”
Within her “MakerSpace,” Korpela said she is able to accommodate artists and small business owners alike.
“People can create something at home and sell their products here, or if they’re at the next level, they can rent a space and start their own little micro business,” she said.
Korpela purchased the former Elks Club on Aurora Street. At first, Korpela’s craft store, ToriHouse, was the only business inside the large building. Later on, Korpela said Char Brickner, of Ironwood, wanted to open her business there, too.
Then in July, Korpela opened 906Boom!. Since then, Korpela said she has helped several area residents start businesses.
Inside 906Boom!, there is Korpela’s craft business; LeeAnn Heikkila’s abstract art and photography studio; Anne Atwood Reimer’s stained glass studio and Chris’s, her husband, wood shop; Brickner’s craft studio; Linda Eschmann’s handcrafted jewelry, home decor and gift shop and Lily Palmer’s pottery and fibers studio. Korpela said there are “more to come.”
While running their businesses, Korpela said they also teach classes, hold unique educational events and collaborate on “cool projects.”
“We want people to try new things and do them successfully, or terribly, and enjoy it either way,” Korpela said.
Korpela said she chose the name 906Boom! because it’s the city’s area code and because “Boom!” is the sound makers, creators and thinkers make as something is accomplished.
Through 906Boom!, Korpela said artists and small business owners can succeed, which benefits the local economy.
“For every dollar spent locally on a locally made product, it is estimated that seven to eight times that amount ripples around our local economy on things like infrastructure, schools and important community services that benefit all of us,” she said.
In the future, using 906Boom!, Korpela said she wants to start a commercial kitchen.
“People can produce a product and sell it to retail outlets,” she said.
