Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette. From left Jessie Wiederhold, managing director of Visit Keweenaw, Katie Schlief, Keweenaw Chamber manager, and Brad Barnett, Visit Keweenaw executive director, pose in their organizations’ new shared space.

HOUGHTON – Visit Keweenaw and the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce are now sharing office space in the former Rhythm Bike Shop, on Shelden Ave. in downtown Houghton. To celebrate the share location, the two organizations will host a community opening from 4-6 p.m. today.

According to a joint statement from the two organizations, the move marks the Chamber’s new home and Visit Keweenaw’s transition from its longtime Calumet office to a more central, visitor-accessible location at the gateway to the Keweenaw Peninsula.

The Keweenaw Chamber was previously located on the east end of Shelden Ave. in a building that was recently demolished. Together, the two organizations aim to strengthen their ability to serve local businesses, residents and travelers while deepening collaboration between the region’s business and tourism communities.

Visit Keweenaw Managing Director Jessie Wiederhold said the new space will serve as a welcome center of sorts. Visit Keweenaw Executive Director Brad Barnett said the new welcome center located in downtown Houghton positions the organization at the entryway to the Keweenaw, where staff can connect with visitors to the area as they begin what he called their Keweenaw experience.

“By sharing space with the Chamber,” said Barnett, “we’re also enhancing the efficiencies of both organizations, learning from each other, and creating new opportunities to collaborate on behalf of our members and stakeholders.”

Katie Schlief, manager of the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, agreed wit Barnett. “We’re excited to begin this new chapter, not only in a new space, but alongside Visit Keweenaw,” Schlief said. “By working together, we can expand our reach, enhance our impact and even create more opportunities for our members and communities we serve.”

It is not the first time the two entities have shared a space. “If you go back about 30 years ago,” said Wiederhold, “the Chamber of Commerce and Visit Keweenaw were parts of the same organization.” At some point, Visit Keweenaw separated from the Chamber of Commerce. “So, it is pretty cool that we’re going to be co-habitating again,” Wiederhold said. “We share a lot of the same missions, some of our membership is the same, so being together, we should be able to make a nice difference for our memberships.”

Although the new headquarters officially opended today, Wiederhold said a large number of Chamber members have already been coming in to do business. The doors will open at 4 p.m. today with a ribbon cutting to take place at 5 p.m. Wiederhold said.