On Friday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) awarded a pair of local businesses $25,000 to develop their downtown spaces.

The money they received was part of a total of $697,325 in grants sent to 28 Michigan communities with the intent of supporting small local businesses to create resiliency and strengthen downtowns.

In Rogers City, the $25,000 grant is being used by L Rose Studio of Dance, to create a new dance studio in downtown Rogers City. The owner is Rogers City native Linnea Hentkowski, who is currently a student at Northwood University looking to give back to her hometown.

In Alpena, the $25,000 grant is being used by Rusty Petunias to open up a second-story rental space.