Archives July 2020

Alger County is located on the Southern Shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of MichiganHome of beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Alger County extends along the southern shore of Lake Superior for over 80 miles. Several hundred thousand visitors come to local attractions each year, supporting a significant year-round tourism industry. Alger County also contains a significant amount of manufacturing employment and is connected to the Midwest and Canadian markets by means of Highway M-28 and US-41, as well as by rail. Alger County’s vast forests of white pine, which brought the lumber industry to the area, have been largely replaced by hardwood forests. But the wealth of natural resources is still crucial to the local economy, supplying both raw materials for industry and scenic beauty and recreation opportunities for local and tourists alike to enjoy.

• Helpful Business Resources:
• – Munising Area Partnership for Development
• – 1st Step
• – Michigan Works
• – Northern Initiatives
• – MEDC
• – UPEDA
• The Munising area economic development effort is focused on the expansion of new and existing businesses and small industry.
• New small manufacturers are welcome at the Munising Industrial Park. Alger County’s stable economy is rooted in the area’s abundant natural resources. Lake Superior and other waterways, abundant forests and land support tourism and other industries.
• Manufacturing accounts for approximately 21 percent of the county’s total employment, paper mills and lumber have long played an important role in the economy.
• Manufacturers in the Munising area tend to be specialized and utilize state-of-the-art equipment and technology in their manufacturing processing.
• Service related jobs account for 24 percent of the Alger County area’s labor market. Large employers in this sector include Christmas Kewadin Casino which employs over 100 employees, Munising Memorial Hospital which employees 95 employees and Tendercare Health Center which employees 75. The Munising School District employs 140 teachers, administrators and support staff.
• Alger County’s pristine beauty and year-round recreational opportunities are nurturing the growth of what has become the country’s second largest and fastest growing industry: tourism.

The Munising area offers business opportunities to start your new business

Need help deciding what to do in the Munising area? We’ve made it easy for you! Just select a season and read a 3-day agenda filled with information to the best spots in the area. At the very bottom of the page you can print off the information and find links to shorter trip agendas.

These agendas are just a small sample of things to do in the Munising area.

Day 1 – One with Nature

• Visit the Welcome Center to find out “What’s new” Pick up your passport for fun and coupons in Alger County. Get ready for a great day!
• Experience Munising Falls and Wagner Falls at their fullest.
• Take a bite out of history with a Muldoon’s pastie. These hearty meat pies are a mainstay of U.P. miner’s lunches. 1246 W. M-28, 906-387-5880
• Hike through the Hiawatha National Forest and witness a fawn’s first steps.
• Experience a million dollar sunset over Munising Bay from the Navigator Restaurant. 101 E. Munising Avenue, 906-387-1555
• It’s time to check into your hotel of choice. Drop off your bags and immediately head for the hot tub. Your legs and feet will thank you.

Day 2 – The Lakeshore

• Start your day with a great cup of coffee from the Falling Rock Bookstore and Café. They have delicious pastry treats. 104 E. Munising Ave., 906-387-3008
• Cross the street and take an incredible journey on The Pictured Rocks Boat Tours. Make sure to stop into the gift shop. City Docks, 906-387-2155
• Time for lunch! Nothing can beat a VanLandschoot whitefish sandwich from Sydney’s. M-28 East, 906-387-4067
• Take a drive through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Stop at Miners Castle for great photo opportunities.
• Head to the heart of downtown Munising and visit locally owned Putvin’s Drug Store. They have all of your camera needs. 119 Elm St., 906-387-2248
• For a unique dining experience, head to the Dog Patch. Li’l Abner and all of his friends will be there to greet you. 325 E. Superior St., 906-387-4136
• Walk a block down to the Log Jam and have a glass of whatever makes you happy. 127 E. Superior St., 906-387-3737

Day 3 – Grand Island

• Head to the Munising Bakery for a stiff cup of coffee and a delicious homemade breakfast or doughnut. 115 W. Superior Street, 906-387-2148
• Then it’s off to Grand Island via the Grand Island Ferry service. Grand Island is rich in history and home of two unique Lighthouses. Grand Island Landing, 906-387-3503
• Any one for SCUBA? Dive down to the see the shipwrecks in the Alger Preserve. Get close to any of the three ships whose journeys were cut short by the mighty Lake Superior.
• At the Coffee Cantata you can warm up with a cup of Friendship Coffee or a bowl of homemade soup. 118 E. Superior St., 906-387-3635
• Spend the afternoon visiting all of Munising’s lovely Antique, Craft or Gift Shops.
• One last dinner unless you change your mind and want to stay, because there is still more to do around Munising Bay.

The city of Munising is the county seat and the largest town in Alger County. Sitting on the shores of Lake Superior, the city has an active population participating in local government and civic organizations. There are a number of healthy government committees and five community service organizations.

Downtown Development Authority

The Downtown Development Authority has been active since 1986 and was responsible for a number of initiatives including public restrooms at Bayshore Park, repair of sewer and water systems, street and sidewalks and beautification projects. Most recently the DDA has offered a façade improvement matching grant program designed to enhance the appearance of downtown businesses.

Brownfield Redevelopment Authority

The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority was established in 2002 and has been working on a project to reuse an old road commission property with private developers who intend to turn the property into a brew pub and restaurant. They are also working on a reuse of old school property on the lakeshore for possible commercial development.

Munising city government also operates a marina and the Tourist Park, a campground with lakefront spaces. A number of projects are ongoing that will continue to enhance the appearance and desirability of the area to visit and live. Plans are in the works for a bike path that will go mostly along the lakeshore from Tourist Park to Sand Point Road near the Hospital, two tot lots are being upgraded as is the boat launch and public facilities at Tourist Park. An open air ice rink was built in 2006 and a new pavilion is to be constructed at Bayshore Park as a community project in the fall of 2007. We are also in the process of a major Hospital renovation as well as the final steps in an extensive renovation of a historic school building into a modern Tribal Center.

So if you are looking for a great place to visit or you are one of the millions of Americans who are planning to move to a rural area and enjoy a quality of life you can’t get in large cities, we invite you to see what the Munising area has to offer.