L'ANSE - The Baraga County Chamber of Commerce and Baraga County Memorial Hospital will be hosting a community forum Tuesday with the goal of taking action steps on ideas generated at a previous forum.
The public is invited to the open forum entitled "Baraga County - Great Opportunities," at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the BCMH conference center. An April 26 forum served as a brainstorming session but it did not lead to tangible action items, which is why organizers have called this forum "Step 2: Let's Do It!"
"This is a follow-up to the initial meeting which was very well received by the community," Chamber president Mark Massicotte said. "We're looking to get a good cross-section from the community to discuss concerns and opportunities that affect 360 degrees of the county."
According to Massicotte, several subjects will be discussed, including electronic signage, the 2013 U.P. Firefighters Tournament in L'Anse, a countywide website that's nearing completion and FinnFest 2013.
"We estimate that 60 percent of people heading up to FinnFest are driving through our county," Massicotte said. "We're looking to bring concerned people around a table about common issues and build on that synergy."
Marquette city commissioner Jason Schneider will facilitate the forum and help channel brainstormed ideas into calls to action.
"He'll help us direct and gather ideas," said chamber vice president Debbie Stouffer. "My personal vision would be to come up with three or four topics of interest and form some groups.
"Let's quit talking and let's start acting," she added. "The more ideas, more input, more people, the better off we'll be."
Refreshments will be served at the forum. For more information, contact that chamber at 906-353-8808 or baragacountychamber@gmail.com.