SUPERIOR — Long-established plans for a folk school in Superior earned approval from the City Council.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, councilors approved a development agreement with Dottie Doo LLC for the Superior Craft School and commercial storefront, 1315 Ogden Ave., and committed to submitting a grant application for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.’s Community Development Initiative.
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The city was asked to help seek a grant of $290,000 to assist with the estimated $1.6 million investment to establish the school in the tradition of European schools offering learning for life.
“Right here tonight, I come to share with you a dream I’ve had for over 10 years, and now I’m hoping to deliver that project to our community,” said Jeff Dorfman, founder of Dottie Doo LLC, who is also opening an outdoor equipment and apparel store across the street.
A craft school creates a unique learning environment for people of all ages and skill levels to develop new skills, emphasizing creativity, innovation, cultural preservation and passing down skills that might otherwise fade, Dorfman said. He said they offer crafts, music and skills rooted in traditions tied to the area.
“These schools are growing in popularity — over 60 active folk and craft schools nationwide, with many established just in the last two decades,” Dorfman said.
The oldest folk school in the country was established in 1925 in North Carolina. The North House Folk School in Grand Marais has a $3.5 million-$5.3 million impact on the local economy annually based on conservative estimates, Dorfman said. He said they also contribute to the local economy by drawing students who spend money on food and accommodations. The closest folk school to Superior is in Duluth. The Duluth Folk School, 1917 W. Superior St., was founded in 2015.
“We can do this in Superior,” Dorfman said.
Superior Craft School will include a coffee shop, offer a teaching kitchen for baking and cooking classes, and offer a variety of classes for adults in art, poetry, jewelry-making, photography and videography and woodworking. The Lake Superior Woodturning Guild will have their clubhouse there, and the building will serve as a catalyst for other businesses, Dorfman said.
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The nonprofit school will be run by a board of directors that has already been established, Dorfman said.
Dorfman said initially, the school could create five to eight permanent full-time jobs, but he anticipates about 150 regional, national and international instructors would offer classes in a year.
Mayor Jim Paine said the city is a pass-through for the state grant, which the city tries to do every year.
“This one is obviously very exciting,” Paine said.
“We’ve been very successful with this,” said Jason Serck, economic development, port and planning director. “… We’ve done them for Cobblestone, Earth Rider, Empire Block. So, we’ve been pretty successful in doing this.”
Councilor Jenny Van Sickle said when she first saw the space in the former Superior Chrysler Center Ram Truck Showroom, one of the potential reuses she thought of was a place for people to learn about small-engine repair.
“I’m really looking forward to this opening up that space,” Van Sickle said.
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“It’s quite incredible and an awesome idea,” Councilor Tylor Elm said. “I look forward to this happening.”
As a Master Gardener, Councilor Ruth Ludwig said she can envision teaching people how to preserve produce in the learning kitchen. “I’m excited about this,” she said.
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