SAULT STE. MARIE — This summer, Sault Ste. Marie will be getting its first marijuana grow and cultivation facility called Gro-UP.
The city currently has four provisionary centers which began opening after the city passed a law in August 2020 allowing marijuana businesses to operate within city limits.
Gro-UP’s leadership chose Sault Ste. Marie as its base of operations where their product will be grown, tested and packaged. Eventually the start-up plans to have stores all over Michigan but for now, will be opening a retail store near the grow facility.
“It’s a very competitive business in all areas of the state,” said Stephen Lenker, who manages construction of facilities and real estate acquisition. “It was refreshing to have the kind of embracing that we received from the community and also from the city and the people here, they’ve been terrific.”
Even though the facility and store have not officially opened yet, the leaders of Gro-UP are eager to get involved with the community. Recently the start-up sponsored the annual International 500 snowmobile race in Sault Ste. Marie, in addition to partnerships with the local government, economic development organizations and Lake Superior State University.
The university has programs in cannabis business, chemistry, production and science. Students are able to come to Gro-UP and learn about business, economics, law and environmental science through hands-on experience.
“We need to be able to have the community trust us and recognize us for what we are going to be and what we’re going to do for them,” said Tony Mamais, director of marketing. “This allows us to really show our commitment and moving forward that commitment is only going to grow.”
The facility will focus on a no-till style of growing, which means healthy soil is often reused instead of being disposed of and no synthetic nutrients are added. This method lowers the cost of water and materials, is better for the environment and produces high quality product.
According to Adam Raleith, director of operations and master grower, the focus will be on giving the soil what it needs to keep the plant healthy. This means taking regular soil samples in order to know what nutrients need to be added in.
“I tell people all the time. I cannot talk plant but I can talk soil and my soil can talk plant and those two can talk to each other. I’m here just to attend to dirt, make sure the plant does what it needs,” he said.
Raleith said they will be trying out different strains, including seasonally, while also being sure to keep popular products in stock.
Mamais said Gro-Up is only going to get more involved in the Sault Ste. Marie community going forward. In addition to their plans to once again sponsor the International 500 next year, they want to get involved and potentially sponsor other projects as well.
“It’s starting with the biggest winter event probably in Northern Michigan,” he said. “We have an opportunity to jump in when it comes back and show our commitment to everyone involved, meet the people that will have an impact moving forward and build the relationships that will help us help them in their biggest projects.”
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Sault Ste. Marie cannabis start-up gets involved in community
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