Superior Happenings 2019

superior HAPPENINGS

Superior builds on businessenergy

By Maria Lockwood mlockwood@ superiortelegram.com

Atleast adozen businesses joined the Superiorlandscape overthe last year. Each addeda sparktothe city’s dynamic.

“It’s an exciting time Ifeellikethere’s justa different energy in the community,” said Taylor Pedersen, CEO of the SuperiorDouglas County Chamber of Commerce. “You’re turning ablind eye to it if you’re not seeingit, because youcan feel it.”

Whether businessowners arecontemplating amove to theTwinPorts or a move from one side of the bridge to the other,

Superior’s acontender. Both Belknap Street and Tower Avenue havebeenrecently reconstructed;taxes on food and retail goods are lower thaninDuluth

“You do have alot of peoplelooking at this side of the bridge,”saidLindsey Jacobson,executive director of the Superior Business Improvement District.

She said the positive energy has beenbuilding since the launch of the BetterCity Superior initiative, aproposed expositiondistrictwhich was supported by 75 percent of referendum voters in 2016

“Everything’schanging hands and it’sgetting new, refreshedenergy,”Jacobson said

Businesseslike KD’s Restaurant, 7West Taphouse,PotteryBurn and Pak’s GreenCornermade the move to Superior.

Newbusinesses like Twisted Pastries, Empire Coffee, Annie’sAttic and Greenfield Meats andMore chose to make Superior home. Thechangescan be felt throughoutthe city:

► JR Jensenhas anew buildinginSuperior’s East End neighborhood;

► The downtown Empire Blockhas been restored;

► Fastenal is renovating the Erlanson Building;

► Subwayturnedavacant gasstation into arestaurant;

► EarthRider,Thirsty Paganand Bachand Realty

haveinvestedinSuperior’s north end;

► P&R Properties

apartments have sprung up in Superior’ssouth end and downtown, with another underway near North Second Street.

Businesses like Field &ConnollyInsurance, SuperiorFamily Dentistry andShamrock Pizza have spruceduptheir buildings.

Mainstays like Globe News and Northwest Outlet have weatheredyears of constructionprojects yet continuetoserve Superior

“They’re on the corner of constructionand construction,” Pedersen said.

As more businesses open, refresh or relocate

inSuperior and Douglas County, he encouraged them to reachout.

“There are so many resources available to our business community,” Pedersen said. “All you have to do is say ‘Hi.’Imean really, just reach outand say,‘We’re open and this is whatwedo.’”

Onecall can connect businessownerstoa network of help.

“A lotoftimes, that Chamber servesasthe air traffic controllerfor the community,” Pedersen said. “And we know how to connect people to resources or servicestheymight be looking for.”

ENERGY: Page B3

WITC’S NEW LOOK

Renovation brings major changestoSuperior campus

By Shelley Nelson snelson@superiortelegram.com

The castle-like towers that frame the atrium windows on the northwest side of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College are taking on anew look as phase two of arenovation is underway.

Concrete’salready been laid behind the mounds of mud being excavated to finish patio that will grace the facilitythatfirst opened in 1978. Abridge covers the span between the two towers.

“What will happen in this phase is theatriumglass wall facing Catlin Avenue will become our new entrance,” said Stephanie Erdman, vice presidentofacademicaffairs and Superior campusadministrator. “This new entrance will be off Catlin and it will bring students and visitors into our newly remodeled atrium. At thisfront entrance, the bookstore, student services, ourcafeteria and our studentlife will all be there.”

During the first phase of the project, preliminary construction was done in preparation for the new entrance. Additional projects included relocating thestudent life office, installing new plumbing throughout the building and renovating bathrooms on the second and third floors.

Last year’s projects included remodeling and retooling technology and industry programs, and creating a

pharmacy lab complete with shelves, sinks, afume hood and tools pharmacy technician students would use in a real-world working apharmacy.

“We’re really trying to provide that hands-on, real-life experience so that when students get out into the work world, there’s not atransition from the classroom to industry,” Erdman said.

Outside of the classrooms, work is underway on the new entrance and the parking lot that will accommodate a new pattern of travel into the Superior campus.

“The other exciting thing about this new front entrance is we’ll have an outdoor patio with new sidewalks, and the sidewalks will support an iron-like sculptural piece that we’re calling acolonnade (made by welding students). And this colonnade is replicating the bridge between the Twin Ports. In addition, all the other entrances will have kindofsmaller versions of this colonnade.”

All of the current entrances will remain, but the former main entrance will be designated as the accessible entrance to the building, Erdman said.

Anew parking lot on the north side of the buildingwill run betweenCatlin Avenue and Mortorelli Drive, and the

Work continues on the new main entrance at WITC. Jed Carlson / jcarlson@ superiortelegram.com

Students work in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning shop at WITC in Superior on Thursday,April 25.

IS THIS

NEW LOOK

building andproperty ownedbythe University of Wisconsin-Superior, providing students, staff and visitors with plenty of places to park,Erdman said.The parkinglot will include two bioswales —landscape elements designedto remove silt andpollution from surface water runoff.

“Itwas quite interestingtolearnabout,” Erdman said.“Ithink

the neighbors and those in the community will be pleased to hear of these bioswales.”

She said in this phaseofthe project 26 trees will be plantedin theparking lot area to replace trees removed in the first phase

Erdmansaidlighted signage will be installed at the entrances of the parking lotonCatlin and Mortorelli, and on the colonnade, and there will be some lighted pylonsaswell on Catlinand Mortorelli.

Even as work con-

tinuesonthe two-year renovation, plansare in the works for next year’s work.

“We’re slated for the summerof2020 to start on our third floor classrooms, and updating those classroomswith lighting and technology, and changing themto become next-generationclassrooms basically.” She said that’s been agoal acrossthe WITC systemtocreate aspace where distance learning is possible

“We’re kind of excited by thenew plan,” Erdman said

From Page B1

Jed Carlson /jcarlson@superiortelegram.com

1.

Jed Carlson /jcarlson@superiortelegram.com

2.

Photos by Jed Carlson /jcarlson@superiortelegram.com

Work continues on anew parking lot for the main entrance to Wisconsin IndianheadTechnical College in Superior onThursday,April 25.

Machine tool tech studentEvan Kallinen of Silver Bay works at WITC.

Shelves line alocked room in the pharmacy lab created during atwo-phase construction project at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College for the pharmacy technician program.

ENERGY

From Page B1

The BID focuses on an 89-block areaof downtownSuperior. The Chamber advocates for businesses throughout the county.

“It’snot justabout Superior but, by the way,Superiorisinthe county,” Pedersensaid.

“People forget that.”

While both are

memberbased,they don’t drawa hard line.

“I’ll do what’s best for business allday long,” Pedersen said. “I advocate for business; Istand up for the businesscommunity; I’ll counseland advise to the best of my ability.”

And he can pass them alongto other local experts: theDevelopment Association,cityand county contacts,

WHERE IS THIS MURAL IN SUPERIOR?

workforce development, UW-Extensionand local education providers

“Wemake the effort to worktogether,” Jacobson said. “Not just thatwecan andwedo, butwereallymake the effort.”

It’s up to the business owners to make thecall, however “We don’t know what we don’t know,” Pedersen said. “If somebody doesn’t tell usthey’re opening, how

do we know?”

Local businesses do morethanprovide goodsand services Theybring in visitors and traffic, employ workersand support community and nonprofit efforts.

“The district is fulloffriends and neighbors and people that have beenwilling to make the investment because they believe in something and it’s there for us to

Jed Carlson /jcarlson@superiortelegram.com

experience,” Jacobson said.“We have beautiful infrastructure with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)compliant sidewalks. People need to take advantageofit.”

That meansshopping local.

“Becausethe first thing thatwehear when something closes is ‘Great, another thing gone.’ But we also needtoremember that it’s our responsibility,

not just us, buttoget people to go to these places,too,” Jacobson said.“We have alot of reallywonderfulstuff in ourbackyard.Weneed to keep it there.”

For more information on the Chamber, visit superiorchamber.org, call 715-394-7716 or email chamber@ superiorchamber.org. Formoreinformation on the BID, visit superiorbid.com or call 715-394-3557.

By Maria Lockwood mlockwood@ superiortelegram.com

The Strength Factory is on the move. The fitness center is crossing the street from the Superior Business Center to anew incubator space at 625 Hughitt Ave., theformer Arrowhead Printingbuilding

TheSuperior Business Center has been agood place for the businessto grow, owner Kelly Kellar said. The new spot offers more floor space to stretch out in, as well as unisex bathrooms, a private entrance and a shower.

“The space will be a lot more open so we’ll beabletohold bigger classes,” Kellar said.

Launched in 2016 following asuccessful Indiegogo online crowdfunding campaign, The Strength Factory is focused on building strong minds and bodies and promoting healthy living for everyone who walks in the door.

“The biggest thingwe help themunderstand is there’snoone sizefits-all for anybody and thatwehavetotreat everyone individually because not everything works for everyone,” Kellar said.

The Strength Factory offers kickboxing, kettlebells, weightsand suspension training Monday through Saturday as well as specialized wellness programs.

The newest, aSOfit program for Special Olympicsathletes and their unified partners, kicks off May 10. The 10-week program takes aholistic view of health,

encompassingthe four pillarsofwellness: physical, emotional, social and nutritional.

Giving back to the community is important to Kellar, because the business was built with community support. She holds classes for past andcurrent clientsof the Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse at The Strength Factory.

“We work with the women, kind of more health and wellness education and how fitness plays aroleinyour well-being,”Kellar said.

She’s also developingclasses for women andfamilies involved in the Women, Infants and Children nutritional program. Ayouth conditioning camp is planned for June.

Despitethe challenges of being an entrepreneur, Kellar embraces it

“This is apassion,” she said. “I love what Idobecause Iget to be with people. Iget to help them.”

An openhouse for the Strength Factory’s new space is set for 1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, followed by an open house for the SOfit program from 3:30-5:30 p.m. featuringballoon artist Lauralloons. Refreshments from The Juice Pharm, Duluth Kombucha, Lake Superior Brewing,The Cupcake Lady–218 and Louren’s Keep Collective will be served.

Growing strong businesses

The Strength Factory’s movewill allow one of SuperiorBusi-

nessCenter’s anchor tenants, IHS DoorCo., to expand. Otherbusinesses that havecrossed the street to the new incubator space include Audio to Go and Duluth Superior Communications.

New tenants Bad Axe ToolWorks andHabitatfor Humanityalso havespaces in the former Arrowhead Printingbuilding.

According to Jim Caesar,manager of the SuperiorBusiness Center, the new incubator space is half full.

‘We stillhave some light industrialspace, probably just under 3,000 square feet,and then allofthe office space is still open here,” said Caesar,executive directorofThe DevelopmentAssociation

The roughly 5,000 squarefeetofoffice space can be rented by the month,day or hour.

The recent decision by thecity of Superior and DouglasCounty to place the business centerunder theDevelopment Association’s umbrella opened up the option to lease the second building, Caesar said.Italsooffered more opportunities to support new businesses.

“Itwas important for IHS toexpandbecause they’re one of three anchortenants,and the anchor tenants allowus to do the incubationof the others. So that was strategicfor us,” Caesar said. “And thenin addition to that, to be abletofulfillour mis-

sion as an incubator, we needed the space.”

The Superior Business Centeroffers space at reasonable rates to new businesses. The rents areexpected to rise as businesses grow, Caesar said, until they matchmarket rates andthe businesses can graduate out

He encouraged local entrepreneurs to give the Development Association or Superior Business Center acall

“If it’s anewer business or astartup,we want to talktothem,” Caesar said “And we’d likely be agood starting point. We can then point them in the right direction.”

If they need help withabusinessplan, he can connect them

to the SmallBusiness Development Center or UW-Extension.The Development Association has financing help available through the Douglas County Revolving LoanFund and theSuperiorBusiness Centercan help ownersfindalocation.

“We always try to find alocationfor these businessesinthe market,” Caesarsaid. “We don’t just automatically bring them in.”

The Superior Business Center is also a good resource forgraduated businesses or established businesses goingthrough arough patch.

“Don’t justthink you’re done,” Kellar said. “Definitely contact these guys.”

TheStrength Factory movedtothe center in Aprilof2017 after struggling in its original space.

“We think her business is important; we want to helpitto grow,” Caesar said.“It wasasituation where we could helpher out andshe could continue on.”

Kellar was more blunt.

“He saved my butt,” she said For more information, visitwegrowbiz org or superiorbusinesscenter.com.Contact theDevelopment Associationat715-3924749,218-310-9887 or jim@wegrowbiz.org, or the Superior Business Center at 715-718-2327 or jim@jccsduluth.com.

Aclass atThe Strength Factory in 2016, the year the business launched.