Ionia

Downtown Development Authority

March 2018 Newsletter

Chamber Business Expo

The Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo returns on Saturday,

March 3rd from 9am to 3pm at the High School. More than 125 vendors will be

featured offering information on their respective businesses. From health care to

jewelry, you will be able to find everything you need at the Expo. Ionia Public

Safety will be hosting their annual Pancake Breakfast - a favorite stop for all.

Children’s activities have been added including a chance to meet school mascots

and more. For additional information, contact the Ionia Area Chamber of

Commerce at (616) 527-2560.

Ionia Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors

The DDA would like to express our sincere appreciation to Jenny Dinehart and Rich Thompson for their

dedication to the Board of Directors. Each gave endless volunteers hours to the community through their terms as

DDA Board members. Paul Lentz of Edward Jones Investments was recently appointed to the Board of Directors.

Please join us as we welcome Paul as a new member of the group. The DDA Board meets on the third Wednesday

of each month beginning at 8am in the Garden Level (basement) of City Hall. For more information regarding the

DDA, please contact us at (616) 527-1420.

Wizard of Oz Festival

Michigan’s only Wizard of Oz Festival is set for June 8 - 9 from 10am to 6pm. This year, the special

activities will be showcased in the Floral Building of the Ionia Fairgrounds. From specialty Oz vendors

and celebrity guests to Glinda’s Princess Tea, there is something for everyone. New attractions include

carriage rides with a “Horse of a Different Color”, photo booth with Oz props, and Munchkin Treats, just

to name a few. The Vintage Travel Trailer / Camper Show returns with the Tin Can Tourists and Sisters

On The Fly groups. You will have the opportunity to tour the trailers during an open house set

for Saturday afternoon. Adding to the excitement, we have partnered with the “Grand River Vintage

Marketplace Show & Sale hosting numerous vendors with arts, crafts, repurposed furniture and so much

more. We currently have vendor spaces available - request your application now! The Greenville

Corvette Car Club returns to the festival on Saturday. Visit us on FB at Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival.

2018 Board of Directors

Mike Kirgis, Chairperson

Brett Patterson, Vice Chairperson

Dave Cook, Secretary

Tim Hemenway, Treasurer

Jim Killion

Paul Lentz

Ron Wilson

Mayor Daniel Balice, ex-officio

Contact Information

Director: Linda Curtis

Office: 203 W Main Street

Mail: P.O. Box 496

Ionia, MI 48846

Phone: (616) 527-1420

Fax: (616) 527-0810

lcurtis@ci.ionia.mi.us

www.ci.ionia.mi.us

2018 Meeting Schedule

Regularly scheduled meetings of

the DDA are held on the third

Wednesday of each month at

8am at City Hall located at

114 North Kidd Street.

March 21

April 18

May 16

June 19

DDA Committees

The Ionia Downtown Development

Authority welcomes new members

to their respective committees. If

you have an interest in special

events, promotion and marketing

or business development, please

contact the DDA at (616) 527-1420.

Upcoming Special Events

Chamber Business Expo

Saturday, March 3rd

The History of Vaudeville

Wednesday, March 7th at 7pm

Career Fair

at the Ionia High School

Thursday, April 19th

Memorial Day Parade

Monday, May 28th

Ionia Farmers’ Market

June through October

Ionia Classic Car Show

Saturday, June 2nd

Wizard of Oz Festival

Friday, June 8th

and Saturday, June 9th

Street Closure Requests

If you have an upcoming event or activity that may require street closures, use of barricades or planned use of the

Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Trail system, you must complete the proper application forms and receive prior

approval. For more information, contact the DDA office at (616) 527-1420.

Discover career opportunities and connect with future talent at the Ionia Area Career Fair on April

19! Ionia DDA, along with multiple community partners, are hosting a Career Fair at Ionia Educational

Center on Thursday, April 19th at 250 East Tuttle Road. From noon to 2:30pm, local high school juniors

and seniors will learn about career and job opportunities in the area. The event will then open to the

general public from 3pm to 5pm. Employers will bring products they produce and/or information on their

services to engage attendees, and will discuss career opportunities available at their businesses. Multiple

local schools districts will be participating.

Career Fair Set for April 19th

DDA District Commercial Properties for Sale and Lease

View these great property opportunities located within the DDA District. For more information on each, please

contact your local realtor or the listing agent. To have your property included in future newsletters, forward details

to the DDA office at lcurtis@ci.ionia.mi.us

120 Dexter Street - Ben M. Muller Realty Company

New retail center for lease. Located at the corner of Dexter Street

and Adams Street adjacent to the Armory / Ionia Community Center,

the pedestrian bridge and the Grand River Valley Rail Trail Trailhead

Park. Available suites range in size from 1,300 – 6,000 SF with drive-up oppor-

tunity. Pricing ranges from $16.50 - $17.50 per square foot. For more

information, please contact Victoria Hansen at (616) 456-7114.

309 West Adams Street. $890,000

With 8,820 square feet, the uses are endless. This one story brick

property includes handicap accessible entrance, multiple offices and

conference rooms, kitchen area, and 3 restrooms. Almost an acre of paved

parking lot. Vacant and can be viewed at any time. Call Maria Blackmer of

Live Local Realty at (616) 527-3500.

313 West Main Street $214,000

Commercial property features main floor retail space; upper level has

two apartments. Great investment property. One of the downtowns most

beautiful buildings. Contact Coldwell Banker Weir Manual Hoppough Realty

at (616) 527-2800.

322 West Main Street $49,900

Commercial property provides 1,900 square footage in prime downtown

location. Property measures 18’ X 132 and offers two stories. Also has alley

access with parking space. New furnace, electrical and restroom facilities.

224 West Main Street $99,000

Great office space in each building ready to use. Three stories totaling 5,130

square feet. Built in 1900, this beauty is ready for commercial first floor with

potential for 2nd and 3rd story residential units. Contact Cathy Hoppough at

(616) 527-2800.

Visit the

Grand River Marketplace Show & Sale

featuring arts, crafts, repurposed, vintage

items, antiques and more.

Something for everyone!

Like us on FB at

Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival

or call (616) 527-1420

June 8 - 9, 2018 Ionia Fairgrounds

Selected as one of the Top Ten

Michigan Small Town Festivals

to Visit in 2017

2018 Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival

and

Grand River Marketplace Show & Sale

Join us Friday, June 8th and Saturday June 9th,

at the Ionia Fairgrounds Floral Building for

Michigan’s only Wizard of Oz Festival. As a tribute

to the original movie, we have planned two days of fun

for every member of the family. Meet our Celebrity

Guests and Official Characters, view world famous

displays, and shop the specialty vendor area showcasing

Oz memorabilia. You won’t want to miss the special

makeover of the King of the Forest - the Cowardly Lion.

Join Glinda for the Princess Tea Party on the Floral

Building’s veranda over looking the picturesque Grand

River. March with Wicked Witch and her Winki Soldier

on the foot bridge. Take a carriage ride with the “Horse

of a Different Color.” The movie that started it all will

be shown at the historic Ionia Theatre. Tickets are priced

as they were seventy-nine years ago - just 25 cents per

person.

The first 500 patrons to visit Ralph Zellem’s

vendor booth will receive a free 8” X 10” Wizard

of Oz” keepsake photo. Mr. Zellem has the largest

collection of autographed Oz memorabilia in the world!

Karen Owens will display her one-of-a-kind collection of

Oz inspired jewelry. You won’t want to miss the

L. Frank Baum historical display. Visit with one of

several renowned Oz related authors. Our fair city has

mentions in several of their Oz editions. Each will be

hosted at the Floral Building.

This year we have partnered with the “Grand River

Marketplace Show & Sale” bringing vendors from

afar with arts, crafts, antiques, repurposed / reclaimed

furniture, and vintage treasures galore. Something for

everyone.

The Vintage Travel Trailer Show returns this year

hosting members of the Tin Can Tourists and Sisters on

the Fly. Check out their little gems during the scheduled

open house. The Greenville Area Corvette Car Club will

join us by displaying an array of breath taking autos.

Adding to the excitement of the festival are citywide

garage sales. Maps are available at each sale site and the

Festival’s Souvenir Booth.