Deadline for Great Place Project grants extended to May 25

The deadline is nearing for this year’s applications to the Cook County Chamber’s Great Place Project. This has become a spring tradition and has resulted in many mini-grants that have enabled local businesses and organizations to enhance outdoor spaces.

Past projects over the past 10 years have been the placement of an outdoor ping-pong table at the Grand Marais Library, the funky fishing bobber benches outside the Beaver House in Grand Marais, the huge lake trout painted by Betsy Bowen at Como Oil, a butterfly garden at County Plumbing in Lutsen, flower boxes at the YMCA daycare, a Little Free Library at the Schroeder Town Hall, community murals and more.

The deadline was May 19 but that has been extended to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25. Grants range from $250 to $1,000.

Applicants for Great Place Project grants must be members of the Chamber. To learn more about the grant, or about becoming a chamber member, email ccchamber@boreal.org or call 218-370-9665.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Chamber Executive Director Jim Boyd as the first deadline approached. Click to hear their conversation below.

A 2021 Great Place Project--beautiful benches painted by local artist Sam Zimmerman

Another 2021 Great Place Project, picnic benches for residents and visitors at the Clearview complex in Lutsen

A past Great Place Project at Sawtooth Mountain Elementary--the felted forest!

One of the first Great Place Projects was this outdoor ping-pong table at the Grand Marais Library

Rhonda Silence May 20, 2022