In Rogers City, Huron State Bank, led by Erik Nadolsky, embarked on a project with a dual purpose: to develop a disaster recovery site and to preserve a historic building. The challenge, however, was to secure the capital necessary to realize this vision while maintaining shareholder value.  

To navigate the complexities of this project, Erik sought assistance from the Michigan Small Business Development Center (Michigan SBDC). Business Consultant Carl Bourdelais provided valuable support with business plan development.  The Michigan SBDC also connected Huron State Bank with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The business plan submitted to the MEDC resulted in a significant influx of capital, complementing city and brownfield abatements.  

The project successfully transformed the historic building into an ADA-compliant disaster recovery site with two rent-generating apartments on the second floor. When not serving its primary purpose, the lower level is used for board and shareholder meetings and as a meeting space for non-profits.  Instead of converting the site into a parking lot, it now stands as a revenue-generating asset for both the bank and the community.  

Erik credits the Michigan SBDC, the MEDC, and Revitalization LLC for their key roles in the project’s success. He also regularly refers clients to the Michigan SBDC.  “Carl [of the Michigan SBDC] is a pleasure to work with,” said Eric. “He opens pathways to ensure that the right paperwork is processed to move a project like this one forward.”