(STURGIS) – A project that was years in the making is finally finished.

Tuesday night, the new lights in downtown Sturgis were turned on for the first time. Over 2,900 lineal feet of LED lights that were attached to the tops of buildings were lit up, with colors of orange and purple shown to the public.

Sturgis Community Development Specialist Jeff Coney spearheaded the project, and says it’s a good feeling to see the lights up and on. But he says it wouldn’t have happened with community support. ...... {LISTEN}.

In May, Coney presented the idea of the lights to the Sturgis City Commission, saying the money for the project would come from donations along with funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Franks Fund. A Patronicity site was also created to raise money for the project.

Coney says the lights will come on 15 minutes before sunset each day and turn off at 11 PM. They will come on again 15 minutes before sunrise and then turn off after sun up.

Coney says the lights have been programmed for the next year to show colors for every major holiday.

In addition, lights have been put into the new Electric Alley behind Five Lakes Coffee, electricity is now available at a food truck hub across the street from the Sturges-Young Center For The Arts, and QR codes at all historic sites and public art in downtown Sturgis.