Lights action in West End

Sam Godbout (in the boom) and Drew Ristinen of Archkey Solutions work Monday to level and add outlets to a new streetlight on the 100 block of Avenue C in Cloquet. A total of 26 new streetlights will now illuminate the streets of Cloquet's Historic West End Business District, yet contribute less to light pollution than the old models. The new streetlights match the existing lights along Broadway Avenue, installed during previous work on Broadway Avenue and the city's Dunlap Island and Spafford parks. The new West End streetlights were paid for through a $483,649 infrastructure grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Small Cities Development program. The city of Cloquet applied for and received that grant in 2022, using $12,495 in financial leverage, including a "Historic West End Business District" sign created by USG Interiors (value of $6,695) that is now visible as people drive into the West End. It's all part of making the West End more attractive to local businesses and helping it thrive, said Holly Hansen, Cloquet community development director.