Photo courtesy of Remax/Michigan The building at 209 Fifth Street is scheduled to receive renovations to its exterior to restore original elements of an original facade, and other buildings on Fifth Street will also receive repairs under a grant sought through the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance.

CALUMET — Working with the village’s Downtown Development Authority, Calumet Main Street, and the village council, the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) are focusing their attention on improvements to a number of buildings on Calumet’s main street, according to Jeff Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe, the executive director of KEDA, told the village council at the regular July meeting Tuesday that “we have packaged up a facade improvement project.”

Ratcliffe said the grant amount being sought is $251,282, with a $66,427 match from the owners of the buildings involved, and the DDA has committed $10,000 to launch the project.

“At this juncture,” Ratcliffe informed the council, “the buildings are 100 Fifth Street, 209 Fifth Street, 301Fifth/507 Oak (Cross Country Sports), and 326 Fifth. Basically from the 100 Block down through the 300 Block.”

Improvements will include tuck pointing, painting, and improvements to the existing historic facades, he said. However, the building at 209 Fifth Street will receive more extensive renovations.

“(Improvements to) 209 will have a little bit more renovation:” said Ratcliffe. “The removal of the siding, (and) restoring elements of an original facade there to actually make it fit much better than what it does right now.The other building are primarily tuck point, fixing and making improvements to the existing historic facades.”

Trustee Nathan Anderson made the motion to adopt a resolution to support the project, which was seconded by Trustee Roxanne King. The motion was approved unanimously.