Bessemer to apply for two trailhead grants

By CHARITY SMITH

csmith@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — The city of Bessemer will be applying for two grants to help cover the cost of a new trailhead for the Iron Belle Trail behind City Hall.

City Manager Charly Loper told the city’s Recreation Committee on Dec. 16 that she felt it would be best to apply for both the grant from the Economic Development Authority and the one from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Loper said they would see which grant the city is approved for, or, if both, then decide which grant to accept.

In order to qualify for the EDA grant the city had an economic impact study done in collaboration with the University of Michigan’s Economic Growth Institute, and the Western U.P. Planning and Development Region.

The study found that the addition of a trailhead to the Iron Belle Trail could increase the accessibility of the downtown area and therefore could increase the economic spending in the area by trail visitors. The study estimated that by adding the trailhead there would be a 25% increase in trail users in the first year and a 10% increase in trail users each year thereafter.

The city has accumulated enough funds for a match for the EDA grant after collecting $93,200, well above the needed $72,818, through the recreation commission’s brick fundraiser and donations. However, the city is still shy in coming up with the match for the DNR grant. Loper said the deadline to apply for the EDA grant is at the end of January, but they have until April to apply for the DNR grant. They still need to raise a bit more for the DNR grant match of $95,000.

Early plans for the trailhead include parking, restrooms, a gazebo, a play area, an outdoor skating rink and a firepit.