August 2018 - Issue #73
Dear Friends,

“Back to School Specials” are a sure sign that we are in the home stretch of the second of our two distinct tourist seasons. Summers in the Keweenaw see us swarmed by hikers, bikers, campers, history buffs, paddlers, and all the others in the know about what we have to offer. 

Tourism is a critical cog in our economic train, but it didn’t just happen by chance. Our place among the Midwest’s best vacation spots was earned by the work and initiative of local organizations. 

The Copper Harbor Trails Club, for example, has worked tirelessly to make Michigan’s northern most point a nationally recognized mountain bike destination. The club has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to build world-class trails, a significant investment in tourism infrastructure that benefits our entire area. Much like the conversion of railroad grades to snowmobile trails, the development of mountain bike trails has created a stream of visitors that would not have otherwise existed. Add to that the resounding success and notoriety of Mount Bohemia’s back country ski experience, and it’s plain to see that the Keweenaw is taking charge of its tourism future. 

However, all of the infrastructure in the world would just collect dust, if no one found out about it. Thankfully, the Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau does a great job of getting the word out about all that’s happening here. From coordination of the Pure Michigan advertising program, to maintaining a persuasive and inviting social media campaign, the KCVB does a great job of keeping the spotlight on Keweenaw travel destinations. 

If you are looking to learn about all the adventure we have close at hand, stop by the Chamber office and Visitors Center, where you will find a wealth of information on local attractions. 

Thanks to all of those who invest time and money in making our tourism world go round. And don’t forget, all of these resources are right in your back yard. Get out there and play!

Thank you for your support,

Brian Donnelly
President
Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce
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Adams Township
Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital
Bella Vista Motel
Brent Peterson, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones - Hancock
Charter Township of Calumet
Charter Township of Portage
Credit Services, Inc.
Dave's BP
Gardenview Assisted Living & Memory Care
Hancock Public Schools
Hyrkas Plumbing & Heating
Isle Royale & Keweenaw Parks Association
Lake Superior Magazine
Michigan Technological University
Minnetonka Resort - Astor House Motel
Northwoods Sporting Goods
Portage Dental Health
R.L. Kavorik, D.D.S.
Rukkila, Negro & Associates
The Mariner North
The Office Planning Group
U.P. Oil Company
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Houghton
WalMart #2192
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Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming Chamber Events
August 11th
Join your friendly coffee roastin’ pals from 12pm to 5pm as they officially celebrate their Grand Opening of Roasterie 113 and their 5 year anniversary. It will be a fun filled day for everyone.

Enjoy music from special guests Bob Hiltunen and the Keweenaw All-Stars from 1:30pm to 4:30pm as well as a special early set from our very own, DJ Bearded Beats, from 12pm to 1pm.

The day will include special treats and activities exclusively for our Kickstarter Backers as well as a good ole fashioned grill-out featuring hot dogs from our favorite local sausage maker Vollwerth’s and a few other fun summertime goodies.

Enjoy our customer appreciation special all day long - 25% off our coffee bar beverages and $1 12 oz drip coffee - as well as other hourly specials announced throughout the day.
Join the friendly staff at Keweenaw Buick GMC in downtown Hancock for their Grand Opening on August 16th, 2018. 

The ribbon cutting is Thursday, August 16th at 11am, followed by lunch and refreshments.

There will be food daily August 16-17-18 from 11am to 1pm.

Free family fun carnival on August 18th from 10am to 2pm!
Event Recaps:
Lunch & Learn
Presenter Jake Putala spoke to attendees about Online Safety.
Sponsored by the Keweenaw Co-op,
Lunch & Learns are offered monthly.
Member Spotlight:
Give us some background on yourself/your business.
Northwinds Adventures is a 220-acre sanctuary where you can stay, explore and enjoy the essence of the Upper Peninsula. We offer various year-round lodging options including: 2-bedroom cabins, a rustic barn remodeled into a house, wall tents and a beautifully-renovated mobile home, just steps away from our private, spring-fed lake. Carl and Michelle take great pride in offering a serene place to stay or celebrate events with friends and family in our fully-equipped dining hall. It’s less than 10 miles outside of Houghton, striking the perfect balance between peace and quiet and the hustle and bustle of a college town. If you want to explore the natural wonders of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Northwinds Adventures is the perfect place to stay.

How many years have you been in business?
Carl bought the property, a former commercial goose hunting camp, in 2011. Since then, he and Michelle have remodeled the structures that came with the property and added a few more so they could share its natural beauty with more people. They started renting the first remodeled building, Da Barn, just for fun at the end of 2014. It soon became a cool, unique place to stay for vacationers and parents of Michigan Tech students. The next remodeled building, The Love Palace, started renting out near the end of 2015. There seemed to be a need for fun, family-friendly places to stay in this area, so we continued to grow the property and Northwinds Adventures was officially established in 2016. Since then, Carl and Michelle have built two new cabins and are planning for the possibility of more.

What’s an interesting fact about your business most people don’t know?
During the summers, Northwinds Adventures turns into the Keweenaw Base Camp for teens from Camp Luther in Three Lakes, WI. They come up to grow in their Christian faith and explore the Keweenaw Peninsula. A new group comes up each week and they stay in one of the two wall tent villages. This enables Northwinds Adventures to still offer lodging and event space to the public on the weekends during the summer months.

Do you have any advice for new business owners?
Work hard, play hard, and make your customer number 1.

What brought you to the area?
Originally from the Green Bay area, Carl co-owns MCL Industries and Bay Tek Games in Pulaski, WI. In 2011, Carl’s son was nearing the end of his freshman year at Michigan Tech and looking for a house to move into for the following year. That’s when they came across a picturesque property that Carl couldn’t pass up. After he bought it, his son lived there during the school year and Carl and Michelle loved the Keweenaw Peninsula so much they decided to move there the following year. As they worked on their dream of developing the land into a camp, it quickly became their daily lives and passion.

What keeps you here?
The sheer beauty of Northwinds Adventures and the opportunities it opens up for families, campers, friends and visitors are more than enough to keep us busy and content year-round. We’ve also made priceless connections with other businesses and people in the area.

What are your business's goals?
We’re currently trying to attract more visitors for the spring, summer and fall seasons and will continue to fill our cabins with snowmobilers and skiers in the winter. We also want to keep adding facilities so we become the “go to place” for any special family or business events in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

How does being in this community affect your business?
The more the community and other businesses know about us, the more our business will grow and the more we can support them in any way we can.
Your Opportunity to Learn More
Contact the Chamber for free access to Skillshare
Member Job Opportunities

Heavy Equipment Mechanic:
We are currently accepting applications for a Heavy Equipment Mechanic. Successful applicants must be self-motivated, possess a strong safety minded attitude and be a good team player.

Regular job duties include the maintenance and repair of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and diesel systems on a variety of heavy equipment. You will be responsible for service documentation, ordering parts as necessary, maintaining assigned shop equipment, and assisting field technicians with equipment maintenance.

Daily maintenance of heavy equipment including excavators, dozers, front end loaders, articulated haul trucks, and water trucks.

Visit www.greatlakesmineral.com for more information.
Member Announcements
Keweenaw Cash
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Board of Directors
Brian Donnelly, President
Financial Services Representative
Superior National Bank

Mary Myers - Vice President
Account Executive
WLUC TV6

Matt Thyer - Treasurer
Owner
Up and Running Technology Solutions

Karin Van Dyke, Secretary
Vice President for University Relations
Finlandia University

Morgan Impola
Regional Engineer
UPPCO
Carrie Richards
Partner Engagement Program Manager
Michigan Technological University

Angela Luskin
Health and Fitness Manager
UP Health System-Portage

Jan Cole
Managing Partner
Edochi, LLC

Marilyn Clark
CEO
MTEC SmartZone

James Desrochers
Associate Director, Industry Relations
Michigan Technological University
Our roots run deep in the Keweenaw
Upper Peninsula Power Company was created in 1947 through a merger of three utilities. One of them, the Houghton County Electric Light Company, earlier acquired the interests of Peninsula Electric Light and Power, which began operating in the Keweenaw in 1884 – just five years after Edison invented the light bulb.
From the Edison bulb to high-tech electronics of today, you might say UPPCO has been providing “ U.P. Power ” for more than 130 years. 
Customer Service
( 800-562-7680 )
24-Hour Electric Emergencies/Outages
1-800-562-7809
Outage Updates
@UPPCOstorm
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Renewable Hydroelectric Generation
With Public Recreational Opportunities
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Learn more at
Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce
902 College Ave, Houghton, MI 49931