April 2009: Choice One Bank

We would like to recognize our featured Member of the Month- Choice One Bank! ChoiceOne Bank has been a local business for over 110 years. As a community business that sponsors local events, non-profit organizations, and youth programs, we are glad to have businesses like ChoiceOne in Sparta. Keep up the great work, ChoiceOne. Like [...]

Sparta Businesses are Lookin’ Good

Notice the amazing changes in Sparta commercial buildings lately? Some of the major changes are due in part to the Village of Sparta Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Property Enhancement Grant program for exterior enhancements to commercial buildings within the DDA District. The program has generated over $250,000 of investment from business owners into the exterior [...]

Milestones on Mainstreet: December 2008

The Big Shakeout of ‘79 In January of ’79, Jose Cruz keeps things moving in the Sparta Foundry. Jose, known as Joe, works second shift. A straight eight from 3:00 to 11:00 at night. Life in the foundry is hard and dirty. But the money and benefits are good. Twenty men work behind noisy presses [...]

Believe…

The holidays are about more than simply getting presents or about Santa Claus. It’s about spending time with friends and families, sharing in the spirit of giving, and the sense of compassion that is evident in many people in our community. Here in Sparta alone, we have many different ways to donate toys to families [...]

Milestones on Mainstreet: November 2008

Sparta Booming in 1876 Today, Sparta is a booming town which boasts a hotel in downtown Sparta, a large, two story building situated on the corner of Mill and Division Street. The town is growing due to the railroad bringing in businessmen and travelers to and through the area. The depot is located near to [...]

Long Time Resident & Business Man

Albert George (A.G.) Meyer, 91, a well known and respected businessman in Sparta for over 40 years passed away from an extended illness on November 11, 2008 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Tim Sartore in Gainesville, GA surrounded by loving family members. A.G. was born January 19, 1918 in Ensley [...]

Milestones on Mainstreet: October 2008

Sleepy Hollow During the days of the horse drawn carriage, Sparta was booming and Mr. McGowan had elevated dreams when he began building his hotel. The farming community was considered the next best thing to the big city of Grand Rapids; therefore his capital venture seemed a sure bet. Up until the advent of the [...]

Spend in Sparta … The Trend You Can’t Afford to Ignore!

Are you easily lured by the flashy attractive ads of big chain stores? The “huge price drops” on inventory that usually require some fine print? As the age old adage goes, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. With the increase in gas prices today, driving from downtown Sparta to [...]

Touching You Again

Photo by Stacy Niedzwiecki – Rockford, Michigan I would like to offer a sincere thank you to all who were involved in bringing such a touching and important tribute to West Michigan. Although I did not know anyone who served in Vietnam, it was a very moving experience seeing the replica in person, and talking [...]

Shaping Up Downtown Sparta

The Village of Sparta Downtown Development Authority would like to invite the community to attend a Downtown Streetscape Construction Project Open House and a chance to view the exciting revitalization efforts which include new streetscape lighting, new downtown benches, paved crosswalks, street gardens, and much more! The Downtown Streetscape Construction Project is set to begin [...]

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