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Houghton County approves $60,000 CDBG loan for child-care startup Gabby’s Guppies
Summary
The Houghton County Board on Feb. 11 approved Resolution #25-02 to authorize a $60,000 CDBG loan for Gabby’s Guppies LLC, a proposed child-care provider that officials say will create 43 child-care slots and employ 10 people; the vote was 5–0.
Houghton — The Houghton County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 11 to authorize a $60,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) loan for Gabby’s Guppies LLC to support a child-care operation in the former Hancock High School building.
The resolution (No. 25‑02) was moved by Commissioner Glenn Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Gretchen Janssen; the roll-call vote was 5–0 in favor. The board opened a public hearing on the loan before taking the vote.
Sam Stonelake, business retention specialist with Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), told commissioners the project “will be a loan for 43 childcare slots and will employ 10 people.” Stonelake said the Revolving Loan Fund Committee had recommended the loan.
The resolution authorizes the county treasurer to execute the CDBG application and, if awarded, sign the loan agreement and serve as certifying officer for the required environmental review procedures.
Why it matters: County officials said the project is consistent with local community development goals and that at least 51% of beneficiaries would be low- and moderate-income persons, a standard condition for the type of CDBG funding the county is requesting through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
What’s next: The resolution authorizes submission of the CDBG application to the MEDC; no project costs will be incurred until a formal loan award and completion of environmental review procedures are completed.
Votes at a glance
• Resolution #25‑02 (Gabby’s Guppies CDBG loan), moved by Anderson, seconded by Janssen — Roll-call vote: Yes 5, No 0 (Tikkanen, Keranen, Anderson, Janssen, Britz).
Context and related details
The loan would be held by Houghton County as a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) loan and is described in meeting materials as a 10‑year loan at 7% interest. County staff indicated the request was vetted by the RLF Committee before the Board hearing. During the public-comment portion of the agenda, two residents (Sarah Green and Frank Fiala) spoke in support of the project.
The board approved other routine business at the same meeting, listed separately, including appropriations and a non‑budgeted purchase for sheriff deputies’ body armor.