ESCANABA — For businesses or organizations that may be new, offering a new service or moving to a new location in Delta County, getting the public acquainted with the location and products or services offered, is a primary goal.

The Chamber of Commerce believes that some type of official opening such as an open house or ribbon-cutting ceremony serves the two-fold purpose of introducing our members to the community and helping to build goodwill and understanding among the public.

After the smiling faces gather and the ribbon is cut, then the time comes to share the celebration with the masses. In the last month, the Chamber has had the opportunity celebrate milestones of two Chamber members with ribbon cuttings.

The East Ludington Gallery offers a great opportunity to view Michigan artists work on display and purchase from a myriad fine art and crafts. These fabulous works of art are updated often — paintings, pottery, photography, jewelry, wood carvings, baskets, and more. As their website states, whether your taste is eccentric or functional, the East Ludington Gallery of Upper Michigan will surely have a piece to enhance the beauty of your home, office, or cabin. The artists of the East Ludington Gallery artists offer works of creativity in both small or large scale, but always immense in quality and value.

After a devasting fire in downtown Escanaba in January, the East Ludington Gallery was forced to close its doors with an uncertain future. But in true Yooper fashion the 45 plus area artists and craftsperson’s who have been presenting quality work since 1981 persevered and through the generosity of an anonymous donor who purchased a building, the East Ludington Gallery found its new home at 1000 Ludington Street at the former location of the well-known Morrison Shop. The artists and volunteers worked hard right up to the last minute to be ready to open the doors at their new location on May 7th and on June 28th they officially celebrated their grand re-opening with a ribbon cutting celebration.

It is not too late to join in on the celebration, I encourage all to make a point to visit the East Ludington Gallery. Your support of the artists will be appreciated, and the visit is sure to be mutually beneficial as you get to experience firsthand the talent that exists in our waterfront community.

Located near the U.P. State Fairgrounds you will find Midwest Truck Driving School and North Country Heavy Equipment School. Midwest Truck Driving School was started in 1998 and has since graduated over 15,000 students with their Class A CDLs, Class B CDLs, Passenger and School Bus, Tanker, Hazmat and Doubles and Triples Endorsements. They offer state of the art equipment, industry specific training semi-trucks, and instructors that have a passion for teaching the industries next professional drivers. In 2015 Midwest Truck Driving School acquired North Country Heavy Equipment School, which began operating in the late ’90s, and has since been running alongside Midwest Truck Driving School at their current location, 1519 N. 26th Street in Escanaba.

On Thursday, June 27th the Chamber, Ambassadors and members of the community were proud to join Midwest Truck Driving and North Country Heavy Equipment School to take part in a ribbon cutting celebrating the addition of the North Country Electric Line School. The Electrical Line Technician Program is designed for individuals seeking comprehensive training in the field of line technology. Over 16 weeks and 640 hours, students will embark on an intensive journey to become proficient in various aspects of electrical line work, setting the foundation for a successful career in this dynamic industry. The program boasts the Midwest’s first outdoor and indoor pole climbing facility. This cutting-edge setup provides students with a realistic environment to practice climbing techniques safely under expert guidance, bridging the gap between theory and practical application.

We would like to once again congratulate these businesses and encourage the public to get out and support these, and all our member businesses, who work year-round to contribute to the overall well-being of our waterfront community.

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Sheila Krueger is associate director of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce