Bayfield, WI (May 11, 2022) – Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes visited five local Bayfield businesses on Tuesday, May 10. All of the businesses have taken advantage of the state’s Main Street Bounceback Grant Program.
Gov. Evers and Sec. Hughes visited Honest Dog Books, Silverwaves Jewelry, Workshop 46.8° N, Penny Print Studio, and Blu Studio and Wellness. All of these Bayfield business owners have applied for funding through the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program.
Business owners have been able to use the grant funds to either expand their business or start a business in the newly purchased and renovated Allwood building at 40 South Second Street in downtown Bayfield. The developer, Matt Carrier, purchased the building in October of 2022.
Julie Buckles and Charly Ray opened Honest Dog Books in 2019. The $10,000 in funding they received from the Bounceback Grant Program gave them the confidence to sign a one-year lease for additional space in the Allwood building. Buckles and Ray are working to bring in authors and host events in the new space.
Lissa Flemming, of Silverwaves Jewelry, put her $10,000 grant money to work right away. She moved her gallery and shop into a bigger space along Bayfield’s Historic Rittenhouse Avenue and opened an additional space, Workshop 46.8° N in the Allwood building. There, Flemming is teaching the community her craft of metalsmithing while bringing in other artists to host workshops.
Kate Clark opened Penny Print Studio in May of 2022 in the Allwood building. It will consist of retail space and an art classroom. Clark will also provide screen printing, artisan goods, and educational opportunities for locals and visitors.
Darcy Schwerin opened Blu Studio and Wellness in Bayfield’s Allwood building in May of 2022. Schwerin is poised to offer yoga classes, meditation classes, holistic facial treatments, and functional nutrition coaching.
Gov. Evers announced Tuesday he will be investing an additional $25 million into the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program, which he says has helped more than 4,200 small businesses and nonprofits across all of the state’s 72 counties. The Governor’s office reports that Tuesday’s investment will bring the program total to $75 million.
The deadline for businesses to apply for the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program has been extended to December 31, 2022, and grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until all the funds are disbursed.
For more information about the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program, please visit the WEDC website.
Other Bayfield business owners who have applied for the grant include Shelli McMullen of Shelli LLC, Jenna Galegher of Sweet and Salty, Rachel Carpenter of Good Flower Farm, and members of the Bayfield Artists Guild.
