IRONWOOD, MI - Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - C & S Construction and Remodeling have just about completed the facade improvements to Creative Spirits Rubber Stamping and Scrapbooking on Lowell Street, downtown. New siding and new windows have really improved the appearance of this successful downtown business.

The remodeling is a cooperative effort with the City of Ironwood. Creative Spirits' new facade is part of City's Phase II Facade Grant improvement program. The owners of the building, Becky Schwartz and Karen Ely, through the MSHDA funded facade program, paid 50% of the construction costs. MSHDA picked up the remaining half.

The City has applied for a third Phase in the program. Several local businesses have taken advantage of this incentive to date. The intial grants were applied for by former Community Development Director Pat Merrill and Assistant Director Jane Bowman. Dennis Hewitt, the City's Building Inspector/Assessor, also takes an active role in these projects.

C & S Construction of Ironwood will be moving on to the Uptown Cafe next. The Uptown is also participating in the program.