MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II joined the owners of Upper Peninsula Inspired to visit a 2025 state Match on Main grant recipient.
The company sells products made in Michigan, including wine, beer and spirits, as well as clothing and merchandise.
“It’s good to be as local as possible,” said Bill Graham, one of the owners of Upper Peninsula Inspired. “It’s amazing to showcase and have a place for small places to showcase their beer, wine and spirits, against some of the biggest national brands in a side-by-side comparison, and people realize how good these products are when they are given the opportunity to try them.”
The grant totaled $25,000 and was used for the company’s outdoor expansion project.
The project added a barbecue food truck, outdoor seating, a renovated indoor kitchen and a brand new patio.
Financial reimbursement from the state accelerated the renovation process.
“Halfway through our project was when we were told we had won the grant, so it only took what probably would have been a three-year process to complete in one season,” Graham said.
The grant program aims to support small business projects in Michigan that activate business districts and strengthen local economies.
“I do this because, first of all, the people here matter, the economy here matters, the communities here matter, so whether it’s in the summer eating barbecue or in the winter ice climbing, whatever, I want to make sure I have a sense of how people spend their time, what’s important to them in Michigan and the Upper Peninsula in particular,” Gilchrist said.
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