NISULA, Michigan (WLUC) – Red Hen Foods & Goods in Nisula, Houghton County, has received a $25,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
The county council passed a resolution approving the loan financing at its regular meeting on Tuesday.
The resolution states that the county treasurer will submit an application for this funding to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and sign the loan agreement.
The Houghton County Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) recommended approval of this resolution.
The financing will cover the facility and equipment under construction. Once completed, Red Hen Foods & Goods will offer food services, prepared meals, pet food and retail items.
The owner Alison Kirksey and her husband put it together.
“We came here 10 years ago and the building was run down and for sale just two miles from our house,” Kirksey said. “So we bought it and started renovating it with the idea that one day I would do something with food with it.”
Kirksey says work on the store began in 2020 and picked up steam last year. During that time, a storm came along and blew down a barn she and her husband owned. They came up with the idea of using the barn’s wood and metal as furnishings for the store’s interior.
According to Kirksey, it is a project costing approximately $150,000.
“People in the area are excited to have new opportunities for new stories and a gathering place,” Kirksey continued. “The response from neighbors in the area has been overwhelmingly positive, I’m so grateful.”
Kirksey hopes to have the business up and running within the next two months. She is working on incorporating local farms and produce to give the area something special to eat.
“Every day I’m going to be making fresh food,” Kirksey added. “So there’s going to be fresh soups, there’s going to be different things on offer, and I want people to know that they can come in and get quality food from as many farm-to-table products as possible.”
All rights reserved.
