Crispigna’s Italian Market has been a landmark on the North Side of Iron Mountain and known for their Italian products such as ravioli, sausage, pizzas, sauce, antipasto, porketta, bread and specialty meats and cheeses for nearly 100 years. Over time, the store has grown to include full event catering, lunch box programs, providing decadent desserts and unique gift baskets.
Julie Cowling, one of the owners said, “As our store turns 99 years old and approaches its hundredth birthday next year, we’re preparing for challenges tied to aging equipment and facilities. Upgrades are crucial for maintaining productivity and providing an enhanced experience for our loyal customers.” Cowling expressed gratitude, stating, “Our banker, Jean O’Dette from First National Bank & Trust, notified us of an opportunity to apply for an Elevate grant, through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis that services Michigan and Indiana. First National sponsored our application to purchase new equipment and helped us thru the process.”
Crispigna’s owner Lori Cevigney says the grant money will go towards strengthening the store’s infrastructure. “Additional projects in progress include adding a dedicated pizza station and sandwich station to streamline production efficiency. The Elevate grant will also support acquiring a dough roller and grab-and-go cooler facilitating customer self-service for meats and cheeses in the deli case. We’ve already purchased and installed a new AC unit,” said Cevigney. “With all of the new machinery and stuff that we have and that we’re getting, it throws off a lot of heat, so that helps out us in the kitchen and it helps our customers be more comfortable.”
The 2023 Elevate grant, awarded to only 38 businesses out of 233 regional applicants, provided Crispigna’s the full $20,000, with additional points for being a women-owned business. Only six grants were awarded in Upper Michigan. Crispigna’s was the first Elevate grant First National Senior Vice President/Chief Credit Officer Jean O’Dette has helped bring to Iron Mountain. She says supporting her community is its own reward. “One of the things First National does is always give back to the community,” said O’Dette. “Whether volunteers, or cash or contributions. Being able to partner with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis to provide $20,000 for our community? It’s a wonderful feeling.”
Other recipients in the Upper Peninsula, such as Copper Country Boat Tours, Ghost House Farm, and Beaver’s Lures of Escanaba, also benefited from the Elevate Small Business Grant Program. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, which oversees the Elevate program, has awarded $705,130 in grant funding to small businesses in Michigan and Indiana this year. The grants aim to support for-profit businesses generating less than $1 million in annual revenue, evaluating feasibility and community impact in the application process.
Visit Crispigna’s Italian Market of Iron Mountain online at crispignasitalianmarket.com.
To learn more about banking with First National, visit www.fnbimk.com.
For more information about the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’s Elevate Small Business grant or other community and housing programs, visit www.fhlbi.com.
Pictured second from left is Jean O’Dette, Chief Credit Officer, First National. Pictured left-to-right are three of the co-owners of Crispigna’s Italian Market: Lori Cevigney, Julie Cowling and Lisa Berlinski. Not pictured is co-owner Jodi Formolo.
