A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday in Escanaba for the new Delta County Chamber of Commerce building, which will be placed on the U.P. State Fairgrounds.
Gov. Rick Snyder was on hand for the event, as were State Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) and State Rep. Beau LaFave (R-Iron Mountain). The new facility was made possible by a $1 million donation from the Besse Family Foundation.
Greg Besse, the son of John and Melissa Besse, spoke at the event, noting that a main feature of the building will be an Upper Peninsula Veterans Museum.
The museum will be the first in the U.P. to honor all veterans, regardless of which time period they served in.
The State of Michigan also contributed to the cost of the new building, which will replace the Chamber’s aging facility in downtown Escanaba. It is expected to open next summer, with a dedication planned during the 2019 U.P. State Fair. (Jesse Huff photos)
