PONTIAC >> Pontiac officials said Friday morning that the city has plenty to be excited about, and two of those things were celebrated during a ribbon cutting event downtown that drew a large crowd.
The event kicked off a new-look Woodward Dream Cruise week for the city and also recognized scores of new businesses downtown and around the city.
“Our historic downtown is unique and it’s a downtown that we share with other communities that don’t have a downtown,” Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman said.
“This is the front porch of our community and we’re very happy to support all those new businesses who are coming in.”
Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner also spoke at the event.
“Pontiac … is coming to the position where they are driving economic development for the city, for the county, for the region and the state,” Meisner said.
“The brave entrepreneurs who are assembled here today represent new small businesses. They’re the ones that are driving economic development across the country.”
Meisner said a goal of Friday’s event was to bring people together.
“We’re coming together to say ‘Now is the time,'” he said.
“We’re thrilled with what’s going on in Detroit because we think that a strong Detroit is good for the region and good for everybody, but we want to make sure that we capture some of their success and turn this beautiful, historic downtown into the destination that it’s on its way to becoming.”
Pontiac Downtown Business Association Executive Director Glen Konopaskie said the addition of more food, retail, entertainment and service-based businesses is a sign of the city’s strength and momentum.
“With the addition of about a dozen new businesses, people will have more experiences to enjoy when they come into our downtown,” Konopaskie said. Among those new experiences are walking tours, which are expected to be available by next weekend. Canvas Pontiac art installations will be among the stops on the path, as well as historical installations recognizing the city’s automotive history.
That history will be celebrated in full swing next weekend as the Thunder in Pontiac, taking the city’s portion of the Dream Cruise to a new location and expanding it.
“Besides the classic car show Friday and Saturday, we’re adding Woodward Scream Cruise and the Mad Cow Motorcycle Party on Sunday,” Konopaskie said.
“We’re proud to be able to do what we’re doing this year in expanding it and we’re looking for feedback as we’re looking at significantly growing it next year, doubling or tripling it in size.”
The motorcycle cruise is put on by Mad Cow Custom Leather, one of the new businesses recognized Friday. It’s owned by Jay Burgher, who also addressed the crowd.
“Selecting a location for a business takes a lot of thought,” Burgher said.
“Deciding to move to downtown Pontiac was a decision to be a part of the community. Since growing my businesses and moving to downtown Pontiac, we’ve actively connected with our neighbors. From myself and all of my neighbors, we’d like to welcome you to downtown to explore the Thunder of Pontiac Dream Cruise festival. We’re going to be bringing that soft rumble of thunder to Pontiac on Sunday, adding to the Dream Cruise by a day and hopefully adding to the variety of folks that come down to downtown Pontiac for that event and hopefully come back to shop here. Rat rods, motorcycles and classic cars will all convene in downtown Pontiac for an event.”
Visit ThunderInPontiac.com for more information on the Dream Cruise celebration, which will take place on Saginaw Street from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. A portion of Sunday’s event will also take place on Water Street.
