Community leaders and business owners in one Grand Traverse County community are brainstorming ways to bring new visitors to the area.
Acme Township is putting together a business plan centers around a busy stretch along M-72 and US-31. Officials hope to gather unique ways to get the constant flow of traffic to stay in the area, and bring in more business to the community. Thousands of cars travel a stretch of M-72 in Acme Township everyday, but sometimes business owners feel they go un-noticed by all of that traffic. Local business owners like Richard Bruening who owns the Stained Glass Cabinet Company will attend a meeting this week where ideas will be discussed about how to get people to stop. Richard Bruening says,"for about 24 years, we've been watching cars whiz by our shop...Acme is a drive-through. We need to have something that brings people here. I don't know what it's going to be...an event or a development."
Over the summer Bruening and other business owners came together to hold a weekly farmers market on the property they share. Bruening says, "by bringing other vendors to the property, it brought people that wouldn't have ordinarily stopped." And with all of the controversy that's been going on in Acme Township over the last several years, from recall elections to lawsuits over Meijer, perhaps this meeting will allow community and business leaders to come together to change the township's image. Sharon Vreeland Acme Township's Manager says, "we're certainly more known for the challenges that we've have recently than the successes. We need to talk about those successes and what's going on right in our community." Whatever happens, business owners say it's going to take a community effort to make people aware of what a lot of people drive by every day. Scott Johnson with the Stained Glass Cabinet Company says, "perhaps we'll do some joint advertising or and think of activities or think of reasons to draw people to Acme for a positive reason." The Acme business meeting takes place Wednesday morning beginning at 7:30 at Travino restaurant on M-72.
Other Meijer/Acme issues:
Meijer appeals to the Supreme Court - September 9, 2008
Meijer documents - June 26, 2008
Meijer lawsuits possible - June 25, 2008
Meijer latest - May 16, 2008
Community reacts to Meijer fine - May 14, 2008
Meijer fined $190K for violating campaign finance laws - May 13, 2008
Meijer Company President responds to fine. - May 13, 2008
Meijer Fined 190,000 for campaign violation - May 13, 2008
Court decision could decide future of Meijer recall election case - April 7, 2008
Grand Traverse prosecutor files motion for Meijer documents - March 24, 2008
Meijer in Acme? - February 5, 2008
Meijer releases statement on election violations - February 5, 2008
Meijer investigation continues - January 10, 2008
Meijer Under Investigation (Video) - January 10, 2008
