'History Prize' choosen as Jumpstart contest winner

TRAVERSE CITY - After months of planning, organizing and preparing, the work paid off.

On Tuesday morning, "History Prize," an international tourism event organized in Ironwood, won the Jumpstart contest during the 2014 Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism.

It was one of five statewide proposals competing at the conference. According to History Prize organizer Mara MacKay, the feeling is "tremendous. It is such a relief, but also joy for the future," she said. "It is such an honor of the Pure Michigan community and to put Ironwood's heritage and culture on the map."

Each competitor made a three-minute presentation and had an exhibitor booth displaying the idea.

"We nailed the speech and presentation, and kept it under three minutes," MacKay said. "Immediately after presenting the History Prize concept, our entire team was greeted with applause, accolades and assurances from attendees we would have their vote."

More than 1,000 people attended the conference, and each attendee voted. Traveling with MacKay to Traverse City were co-organizer Sandy Sharp and Ironwood Chamber of Commerce members Tim Erickson, Sandy Harden and Joe Terzano.

MacKay and Sharp received a $5,000 grant for their prize, to be used to initiate the project. The goal for the 2016 event is to feature a living history presentation, fixed exhibits and historical collections from all over the world.

The event is modeled after the successful Art Prize, which has brought $22 million, along with 400,000 visitors, to Grand Rapids, according to a 2013 study.

MacKay said the group would like to receive enough investments and sponsorships to award $150,000 in prize money to History Prize participants.

After the conference, MacKay and Sharp will meet with Start Garden, an online network of investors looking for ideas, businesses or enterprises to supply funding.

"Our next step is outreach and planning," MacKay said. "We'll be talking with Start Garden, looking for more funding opportunities. We will also be working with Pure Michigan and reaching out to heritage partners outside the state to create a heritage network starting in Ironwood."

Last week, MacKay met with students in Hurley and Ironwood to discuss History Prize. The students helped in editing the speech and provided ideas of what they would like to see at History Prize.

"Before I walked up on that stage, my last thought was of those kids," MacKay said. "I thought about those kids and how they wanted to see this happen. They were a big part of this."

MacKay is excited to move forward with History Prize.

"This is very rewarding, and what an honor for the Gogebic Range to host. A lot of hard work went into this. We are thankful to the community and for everyone in Ironwood. We felt their support over the miles in Traverse City. We couldn't have done it alone," she said.

For more information about History Prize, visit historyprize.org.