Ionia Downtown Development Authority March 2018 Newsletter Chamber Business Expo The Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo returns on Saturday, March 3rd from 9am to 3pm at the High School. More than 125 vendors will be featured offering information on their respective businesses. From health care to jewelry, you will be able to find everything you need at the Expo. Ionia Public Safety will be hosting their annual Pancake Breakfast - a favorite stop for all. Children s activities have been added including a chance to meet school mascots and more. For additional information, contact the Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce at (616) 527-2560. Ionia Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors The DDA would like to express our sincere appreciation to Jenny Dinehart and Rich Thompson for their dedication to the Board of Directors. Each gave endless volunteers hours to the community through their terms as DDA Board members. Paul Lentz of Edward Jones Investments was recently appointed to the Board of Directors. Please join us as we welcome Paul as a new member of the group. The DDA Board meets on the third Wednesday of each month beginning at 8am in the Garden Level (basement) of City Hall. For more information regarding the DDA, please contact us at (616) 527-1420. Wizard of Oz Festival Michigan s only Wizard of Oz Festival is set for June 8-9 from 10am to 6pm. This year, the special activities will be showcased in the Floral Building of the Ionia Fairgrounds. From specialty Oz vendors and celebrity guests to Glinda s Princess Tea, there is something for everyone. New attractions include carriage rides with a Horse of a Different Color, photo booth with Oz props, and Munchkin Treats, just to name a few. The Vintage Travel Trailer / Camper Show returns with the Tin Can Tourists and Sisters On The Fly groups. You will have the opportunity to tour the trailers during an open house set for Saturday afternoon. Adding to the excitement, we have partnered with the Grand River Vintage Marketplace Show & Sale hosting numerous vendors with arts, crafts, repurposed furniture and so much more. We currently have vendor spaces available - request your application now! The Greenville Corvette Car Club returns to the festival on Saturday. Visit us on FB at Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival.
2018 Board of Directors Mike Kirgis, Chairperson Brett Patterson, Vice Chairperson Dave Cook, Secretary Tim Hemenway, Treasurer Jim Killion Paul Lentz Ron Wilson Mayor Daniel Balice, ex-officio Contact Information Director: Linda Curtis Office: 203 W Main Street Mail: P.O. Box 496 Ionia, MI 48846 Phone: (616) 527-1420 Fax: (616) 527-0810 lcurtis@ci.ionia.mi.us www.ci.ionia.mi.us 2018 Meeting Schedule Regularly scheduled meetings of the DDA are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 8am at City Hall located at 114 North Kidd Street. March 21 April 18 May 16 June 19 DDA Committees The Ionia Downtown Development Authority welcomes new members to their respective committees. If you have an interest in special events, promotion and marketing or business development, please contact the DDA at (616) 527-1420. Upcoming Special Events Chamber Business Expo Saturday, March 3rd The History of Vaudeville Wednesday, March 7th at 7pm Career Fair at the Ionia High School Thursday, April 19th Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 28th Ionia Farmers Market June through October Ionia Classic Car Show Saturday, June 2nd Wizard of Oz Festival Friday, June 8th and Saturday, June 9th Career Fair Set for April 19th Discover career opportunities and connect with future talent at the Ionia Area Career Fair on April 19! Ionia DDA, along with multiple community partners, are hosting a Career Fair at Ionia Educational Center on Thursday, April 19th at 250 East Tuttle Road. From noon to 2:30pm, local high school juniors and seniors will learn about career and job opportunities in the area. The event will then open to the general public from 3pm to 5pm. Employers will bring products they produce and/or information on their services to engage attendees, and will discuss career opportunities available at their businesses. Multiple local schools districts will be participating. Street Closure Requests If you have an upcoming event or activity that may require street closures, use of barricades or planned use of the Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Trail system, you must complete the proper application forms and receive prior approval. For more information, contact the DDA office at (616) 527-1420.
DDA District Commercial Properties for Sale and Lease View these great property opportunities located within the DDA District. For more information on each, please contact your local realtor or the listing agent. To have your property included in future newsletters, forward details to the DDA office at lcurtis@ci.ionia.mi.us 120 Dexter Street - Ben M. Muller Realty Company New retail center for lease. Located at the corner of Dexter Street and Adams Street adjacent to the Armory / Ionia Community Center, the pedestrian bridge and the Grand River Valley Rail Trail Trailhead Park. Available suites range in size from 1,300 6,000 SF with drive-up opportunity. Pricing ranges from $16.50 - $17.50 per square foot. For more information, please contact Victoria Hansen at (616) 456-7114. 309 West Adams Street. $890,000 With 8,820 square feet, the uses are endless. This one story brick property includes handicap accessible entrance, multiple offices and conference rooms, kitchen area, and 3 restrooms. Almost an acre of paved parking lot. Vacant and can be viewed at any time. Call Maria Blackmer of Live Local Realty at (616) 527-3500. 313 West Main Street $214,000 Commercial property features main floor retail space; upper level has two apartments. Great investment property. One of the downtowns most beautiful buildings. Contact Coldwell Banker Weir Manual Hoppough Realty at (616) 527-2800. 322 West Main Street $49,900 Commercial property provides 1,900 square footage in prime downtown location. Property measures 18 X 132 and offers two stories. Also has alley access with parking space. New furnace, electrical and restroom facilities. 224 West Main Street $99,000 Great office space in each building ready to use. Three stories totaling 5,130 square feet. Built in 1900, this beauty is ready for commercial first floor with potential for 2nd and 3rd story residential units. Contact Cathy Hoppough at (616) 527-2800.
2018 Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival and Grand River Marketplace Show & Sale Join us Friday, June 8th and Saturday June 9th, at the Ionia Fairgrounds Floral Building for Michigan s only Wizard of Oz Festival. As a tribute to the original movie, we have planned two days of fun for every member of the family. Meet our Celebrity Guests and Official Characters, view world famous displays, and shop the specialty vendor area showcasing Oz memorabilia. You won t want to miss the special makeover of the King of the Forest - the Cowardly Lion. Join Glinda for the Princess Tea Party on the Floral Building s veranda over looking the picturesque Grand River. March with Wicked Witch and her Winki Soldier on the foot bridge. Take a carriage ride with the Horse of a Different Color. The movie that started it all will be shown at the historic Ionia Theatre. Tickets are priced as they were seventy-nine years ago - just 25 cents per person. June 8-9, 2018 Visit the Grand River Marketplace Show & Sale featuring arts, crafts, repurposed, vintage items, antiques and more. Something for everyone! Like us on FB at Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival or call (616) 527-1420 Ionia Fairgrounds Selected as one of the Top Ten Michigan Small Town Festivals to Visit in 2017 The first 500 patrons to visit Ralph Zellem s vendor booth will receive a free 8 X 10 Wizard of Oz keepsake photo. Mr. Zellem has the largest collection of autographed Oz memorabilia in the world! Karen Owens will display her one-of-a-kind collection of Oz inspired jewelry. You won t want to miss the L. Frank Baum historical display. Visit with one of several renowned Oz related authors. Our fair city has mentions in several of their Oz editions. Each will be hosted at the Floral Building. This year we have partnered with the Grand River Marketplace Show & Sale bringing vendors from afar with arts, crafts, antiques, repurposed / reclaimed furniture, and vintage treasures galore. Something for everyone. The Vintage Travel Trailer Show returns this year hosting members of the Tin Can Tourists and Sisters on the Fly. Check out their little gems during the scheduled open house. The Greenville Area Corvette Car Club will join us by displaying an array of breath taking autos. Adding to the excitement of the festival are citywide garage sales. Maps are available at each sale site and the Festival s Souvenir Booth.