CALUMET – The Calumet Village Board approved a match for a grant to be used for stabilization of two buildings in the village at its regular meeting Tuesday.

Jeff Ratcliffe, executive director of the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance, told the trustees a grant of $134,000 is available from the Michigan State Housing Authority for stabilization but requires a local match of $40-45,000.

Ratcliffe said about $22,500 has been secured. He came to the board to ask for a contribution.

He has been working with the village, the Downtown Development Authority, the Houghton County Land Bank and the village Historic District Commission to determine which structures would be the best possibilities for stabilization.

“We’ve been working at bringing back Calumet,” he said.

Ratcliffe said about 12 buildings were considered for the grant, and two were selected.

“We’ve had positive response from MSHDA,” he said.

The buildings chosen are at 425 Fifth St. and 512 Portland St., Ratcliffe said.

Another possibility for obtaining the necessary matching funds is a grant from the Keweenaw National Historical Park’s Advisory Commission Heritage Grant program, said Ratcliffe, and other sources are being pursued.

“We are working very hard,” he said.

State Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, attended the meeting, and he urged the board to approve a contribution toward a match for the MSHDA grant.

“We are leaning very hard on MSHDA to assist these communities,” he said.

Dianda said stabilizing buildings in the village can improve its economic condition and insure the safety of the residents by reducing the possibility of unstable buildings collapsing.

Many Calumet residents and business owners at the meeting commented on the request for a village contribution toward the match for the grant. Points raised were:

If a building collapses, it could damage structures next to it.

The village needs to invest in downtown, which will help draw people to the village.

The village needs to be forward-looking.

If business owners see the village making a commitment to investing, they will be encouraged to stay in the village.

Trustee Tim Bies said he’s been impressed with the effort of Ratcliffe and others to get the MSHDA grant and find buildings to stabilize.

“I’ve never seen this much cooperation,” he said.

Bies made a motion to contribue $5,000 toward the match, which passed unanimously. A motion by Trustee Tom Bowles to contribute another $5,000 passed 4-2, with Peggy Germain and Sidney Dharmavaram voting against.