Jordan Beck | Daily Press Owner, president and CEO of Besse Forest Products and president of the John and Melissa Besse Foundation Greg Besse, right, and his wife Diane Besse are given the chance to be the first official visitors of the Webster Marble “Inventing the Outdoors” Museum during a dedication ceremony and donor reception for a new multi-use complex on the U.P. State Fairgrounds Wednesday.

ESCANABA — VIPs from Delta County and beyond had an opportunity to get an early look at a new multi-use complex on the U.P. State Fairgrounds during a dedication ceremony and donor reception Wednesday. A number of people involved with efforts to establish the complex shared remarks during the event.

The new complex, located near the U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Association’s Antique Village, will house offices for the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, Delta County Builders Exchange, Delta County Economic Development Alliance and the U.P. State Fair; a U.P. Welcome Center; and the U.P. Veterans Museum and Webster Marble “Inventing the Outdoors” Museum. According to Executive Director of the Delta County Commerce Center Vickie Micheau, construction on the complex was completed Friday.

The complex was made possible by a $1 million donation from the John and Melissa Besse Foundation, $500,000 in state funding and a crowdfunding campaign that raised a total of $51,466 earlier this year.

The campaign was run through the Michigan-based crowdfunding website “Patronicity.” Since it hit its goal of $50,000 in time, the project was awarded a $50,000 matching grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s “Public Spaces, Community Places” program.

At the reception, Micheau kicked things off by speaking about the history of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce and the Besse family.

“Today, we honor the memory of John and Melissa Besse, their entrepreneurial spirit and the remarkable gifts which indeed are among the largest in the history of our community,” she said.

The building was dedicated in honor of John and Melissa Besse and the John and Melissa Besse Foundation during Wednesday’s event.

“I hope you guys are enjoying yourselves, and my parents would certainly be proud of this new facility,” Greg Besse — the owner, president and CEO of Besse Forest Products and president of the John and Melissa Besse Foundation — said.

Some state legislators delivered remarks during the event, as well. State Sen. Ed McBroom read a proclamation honoring the memory of John and Melissa Besse and the John and Melissa Besse Foundation.

“In special tribute, therefore, this document is signed and dedicated with profound admiration to the John and Melissa Besse Foundation for the pioneering attitude of always being ready to lend a helping hand when needed and always being willing to contribute towards the public good,” he read.

The proclamation will be signed by McBroom, State Rep. Beau LaFave, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

LaFave went on to thank former State Sen. Tom Casperson for the role he played in the multi-use complex’s creation.

“I can’t pass up this opportunity to say to Sen. Casperson: for all the hard work you did on this, the City of Escanaba and the Upper Peninsula as a whole, thank you so much,” he said.

Dennis Pace — curator of the Webster Marble “Inventing the Outdoors” Museum — also spoke.

“The exhibit you’re about to see, ‘Inventing the Outdoors,’ is a story of a man of the woods who became the Upper Peninsula’s greatest inventor and entrepreneur. It’s also the story about how the outdoors became the U.P.’s largest industry — how outdoor recreation and U.P. tourism was born,” he said.

Additionally, Delta County Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Ed Legault and U.P. State Fair Authority President Phyllis French spoke at Wednesday’s event.

After the remarks, Besse and his wife, Diane Besse, were given the chance to be the first official visitors of the Webster Marble “Inventing the Outdoors” Museum. Lenora Swearingen, Jennifer Marble Howes, John Marble and Joe McGonagle, who are members of Webster Marble’s family, also visited the museum during Wednesday’s event.

McGonagle, the son of Webster Marble’s granddaughter Charlotte, said he has visited the exhibit in all three locations it has been displayed — Lansing, Negaunee and, now, Escanaba.

“This is where it belongs,” he said.

Delta County Economic Development Alliance Executive Director TJ Thomas said he was glad to see the multi-use complex become a reality.

“It’s great for our community — it’s a great way to honor our past and take advantage of our future prosperity that Delta County’s going to (enjoy),” he said.

Delta County Commissioner David Rivard described the complex as a new “cornerstone” for the county.

“I think it’s one of the most fantastic buildings that’s gone up in Delta County in years,” he said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the multi-use complex is scheduled to take place on Monday, Aug. 12 — the first day of this year’s U.P. State Fair — at 3 p.m. The complex will officially open after the fair.