ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Summer community events are just getting underway throughout the U.P. However, Escanaba’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is already looking ahead to next summer.
With the local music scene growing significantly over the last few years, the DDA Board is considering the purchase of a 20 by 16-foot stage for larger events. According to DDA Director Craig Woerpel, the portable stage could also be rented out to other organizations when not in use.
The DDA has a fund balance of more than $400,000. The stage would cost $113,000, plus the cost of delivery from Canada.
“We have more money than we should, so we need to spend it somehow,” Woerpel said to the board at a meeting on Thursday. “Part of it out there is the streetscape. We have committed $200,00 for the current project… It’s just a matter of what our priorities are. Music is becoming a big thing for us. It would put the next step forward on how we would look.”
Several board members spoke in favor of the idea, but approval was postponed so that the board can look into insurance costs. If the DDA decides to move forward, the stage would be delivered this winter.
