SAULT STE. MARIE — After not having a Downtown Development Authority director for more than a year and a half, Sault Ste. Marie finally has a business leader.
This is the first week on the job for Jon DeRoo as the head of the DDA. The position had been vacant since January 1, 2024.
DeRoo graduated from Lake Superior State University in 2000, then went into the plumbing trade downstate.
He then moved back to The Soo from the Detroit area where he was a journeyman plumber and then union leader at Detroit Plumbers Local 98 for the last 18 years.
The DDA’s mission is to develop plans for economic growth and DeRoo comes into the position with a lot of ideas to strengthen the downtown.
“One of my big priorities is going to be, almost every city I know of like the little town I was from, New Baltimore, has a festival. We need something for people to come here. They can mark it on their calendars that it’s going to happen every year. Say a four-day event with multiple activities that will bring people coming back to the Soo,” said DeRoo .
DeRoo already has his plate full of events this weekend including downtown days, a car show and the Trans Superior Yacht Race.
