During its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, the Sault Ste. Marie City Commission agreed to serve as co-applicants in the Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau’s application for a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Grant of $2,470,000 to develop the International 500 Raceway into a four season attraction.
“The I-500 property is only used once a year for the winter (snowmobile) race, and it sits there the rest of the year,” Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Linda Hoath said. “We can do other things with that property. We will do anything we can to make those grounds better. If we can take advantage of a grant opportunity like this, we're certainly going to do it.”
The I-500 raceway is comprised of three parcels to equal 51 acres within the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
Property enhancements are aimed at reinvigorating the annual snowmobile race to attract racers and fans back to the area and mitigate the harmful economic impacts caused by COVID-19.
The grant would fund up to 80 percent of construction costs, covering the track’s development. However, an applicant match of 20 percent or $499,000 is required.
Hoath is working to secure the legislative funding needed to offset the grant’s matching requirements. Former Downtown Development Authority Director Justin Knepper of Knepper Development Strategies is assisting Hoath in grant writing and applications.
The $2.47 million grant application was written with intent of improving upon the 51-acre parcel through the construction of current and/or conceptual features. Future projects would include the roadway, parking lot, bluff terracing, bluff grading, pedestrian bridge, biking trail connectors, electrical system, vendor building and fencing. Road plans are estimated to cost $600,000 alone.
“We are going to put a bridge in from the north bluff to south bluff,” said Hoath. “The bridge would allow for a flat surface to serve multiple purposes. It would allow people who struggle standing to sit down.”
According to Hoath, the entire U.P. would benefit from the track’s development if granted the necessary funds. During its annual snowmobile races, 11,000 area motel and hotel rooms are filled to 100-per-cent occupancy.
“It's a big boost for us during the winter in terms of local economy,” Hoath said. “It creates great revenue for the entire area and Eastern U.P. because people stay all over.”
City Manager Brian Chapman agreed, stating the city would like to see the property become a year-round destination. Such a transformation would continually bring people in, only stimulating increased economic growth.
“Sault Ste. Marie figures the races generate enough money each year to keep our town open through the winter,” said Chapman. “It’s amazing for something like this to go on. It helps hotels and restaurants get over that hump going into summer tourism. The races are great big super awesome event. It brings in all sorts of people from the region, Canada and Wisconsin.”
If approved by the EDA, the grant would enable the I-500 to host entertainers, various races and other special events.
“In the summer, there could be concerts or dirt bike races,” said Chapman. “A lot of other summer activities could be hosted there.”
Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau will submit its application for contractual improvements to the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s regional office by Dec. 31st.
