Our Awards - Main Street Calumet

HOUGHTON — In a night set aside to honor people, the big winner was a project dedicated to reinvigorating the Calumet-area business district. Main Street Calumet received the Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce “Person” of the Year award Thursday at the chamber’s annual awards banquet. Main Street Director Tom Tikkanen said the award, like the project, transcends Calumet. “It’s not about Calumet, it’s not about Laurium, it’s not about Houghton, but a community called the Keweenaw,” he said. Main Street is a federal program designed to create economic growth by marketing historic aspects of a community, encouraging new construction and rehabilitating old and dilapidated structures. Calumet received its Main Street designation in June. Tikkanen said he appreciates the support the project has received from area businesses. “We’re very, very pleased with the vote of confidence from the community of the Keweenaw,” he said. “We’re just getting started, and to receive this is a surprise, but we appreciate the recognition, because it’s been a tremendous effort.”