Home
"To create an environment that will attract residents, businesses and visitors of all ages." STUDENTS ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR COMMUNITY WIDE GARAGE SALE IN UNIONVILLE
This year’s Unionville community wide garage sales will take place July 16th through 18th. The students will be selling donated items during this event to raise funds. Those wishing to support the students can drop donations off beginning Saturday, June 27th. Donations will be accepted each Wednesday from 2:00 to 5:30 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am to Noon through July 11th, excluding July 4th. USA students are working with area pastors on the coffee house project, and the business entity has been established. Those wishing to make a cash contribution to help offset start up costs can make checks payable to Live Wired LLC and mail them c/o USA Schools, 2203 Wildner Road, Sebewaing, MI 48759. The coffeehouse is part of the Hometown USA effort. Many business and community leaders are involved in the effort, including Huron and Tuscola County EDC Directors Carl Osentoski and Jim McLoskey. Osentoski and McLoskey recently presented information to the Village of Unionville about MSU’s Small Town Design Initiative. Unionville approved the proposal, and information will be presented to Sebewaing Village for their consideration soon.
Fundraising efforts are underway for the student run Live Wired Coffee House that will soon open at the Whistle Stop in Unionville. Whistle Stop owner Mary Kovach generously agreed to lease a portion of the building to the students for the coffee house project. However, students need to raise $2,000 for plumbing and electrical improvements to the building before opening.
Small Town Design Initiative (STDI) is a "go-to" resource for Michigan's small communities for physical environmental design assistance in community development and land use. Within the arena of environmental design, MSU-Extension, MSU-Outreach, the College of Social Science, and the Landscape Architecture Program have jointly developed the Small Town Design Initiative (STDI) to address environmental challenges and improve the quality of life in Michigan's small towns. The Small Town Design Initiative is being provided by MSU's Landscape Architecture Program. Faculty of this professional program have significant experience in working with small towns and their environmental design issues and opportunities.
Information and updates about both Live Wired Coffeehouse and Hometown USA can be found on this website.
Thanks to Al Nietzke for assistance with financial requirements, and attorney Amanda Roggenbuck for help with the corporate documents.
*****
Earlier this year an enthusiastic group of business and civic leaders met to take a proactive approach to community growth and revitalization, rather than just leaving everything to chance. The Sebewaing/Unionville group is inviting more people to join the revitalization effort. The group met to brainstorm ideas and start forming a gameplan to make the two towns a place to go to rather than a place to go through.
USA Superintendent Dr. Kip Walker agrees. “We’ve got a strong school system but there’s so much more potential,” he said. “The school and community must work hand-in-hand to grow and prosper. A school district can’t survive without a vibrant business community and high quality of life, and a community can’t attract families to the area without a great school system.”
The forum, led by Michelle Lantz of the Insight Development Group of Grand Ledge, was conducted at USA High School to bring community leaders, business owners, school representatives, and other interested people together to brainstorm ideas about how to move the two villages forward in a positive direction. The forum was organized by USA Superintendent Dr. Kip Walker, business owner Sue Wiese of Sebewaing, and Unionville Community Association leader Judy Remar.
Lantz said in the planning process, people need to keep in mind the five pillars for a strong community: vibrant business/industry; quality healthcare; proactive government and infrastructure; a strong quality of life — religion, travel and tourism; and lifelong education.
The result of these efforts is what you see before you today. Please join us as we work together to strengthen our communities and improve the quality of life for residents.