CLINTON — The effort by two Clinton natives to turn the historic former site of the Atlas Milling Company into a craft distillery has advanced to the fundraising phase.

Ethan Gibson and Ryan Penterics, both 2004 Clinton High School graduates, started a page on the global crowdfunding page Indiegogo on Sept. 23 that aims to raise $170,000 by Nov. 7. The crowdfunding site features regular updates on the project’s funding status, descriptions, economic projections as well as a video telling the story behind what will be called the Atlas Distilling Co.

Gibson and Penterics worked with Tim Robinson and the economic development team at Lenawee Now, who helped the two come up with accurate projections on how much investment they would need to be successful. They also discussed their project with the founders of Tecumseh Brewing Co. — which also began through a crowdfunding initiative — who recommended they try an Indiegogo campaign first.

Gibson said their goal is based on an estimated 25 percent of their venture.

“Right now, we have everything — all the numbers planned, all the profits,” Gibson, who works in law enforcement and currently resides in New Mexico, said. “We have pretty much every bottle cost down to a penny, including ingredients, labels and everything we could think of.”

While Gibson and Penterics are looking for investors, they felt crowdfunding would ensure the project stays under local control.

“It seems like the community is really behind it. Like they really want it to happen. So we were kind of advised, ‘Hey, this Indiegogo could be successful sometimes. Just give that a go and see what happens,’ ” Gibson said. “Because ... maybe the community would support us enough to where we don’t have to sell it to people who aren’t .... intimately involved with it right now.”

Gibson said the amount would allow them to put a deposit on a still, build their facility and connect it to utilities, as well as other initial costs. He estimated that even if they could raise this money, they would need another $130,000, which they hope to raise traditionally, to fully fund the project.

After closing Nov. 6 on the 188-year-old former grain mill at the corner of River and West Franklin street, and getting the village council approval Jan. 4 for a rezoning of the property, Gibson and Penterics have been piecing together the various elements needed for their business.

Yuri Simon, 47, who splits his time living in Colville, Washington, and Sandpoint, Idaho, was announced Aug. 27 as Atlas Brewing Co.’s distiller. Simon will not just be an employee, but also will own a third of the distillery.

“We had a hard time finding someone. I called distilling schools, I called distilleries” asking whether they knew anyone who was available or for advice on finding a distiller, Gibson said. “The answer I got from a lot of big distilleries ... was either you’re going to find a distiller that owns the distillery he’s working at so he’s not going to leave, or distillers will work in a distillery for a couple of years and then open their own distillery.”

Still-maker Henry Anderson recommended they contact Simon, who came with 13 years of experience making beer, wine and spirits. Simon also was willing to move to Michigan to be closer to Buffalo, N.Y., where he grew up and his family still resides. Simon also brings to the table years of experience in restaurant management.

“Basically, we got talking over the phone and realized we had similar ideas and similar dreams of having our own ... distillery,” Simon said. “And I basically accepted that offer to continue on with them and hopefully become the best distiller they’re going to find.”

Like Gibson and Penterics, Simon said he was passionate about distilling and bringing something new to a community.

“We all had the same ambition of creating the best product we can and being in a small community,” he said. “Making it work and gradually maturing and building that up. My goal is to obviously win medals and to produce something that’s going to make the town of Clinton proud too.”

While he has been to other parts of Michigan, he is looking forward to visiting Clinton for the first time late this fall.

“I’m looking forward to meeting all the good energy that’s been coming out of Clinton and meeting those people and seeing what we can do for them,” Simon said.

Atlas distillery aims to have a tasting room overlooking the Raisin River, which passes through the property, and serve Michigan-inspired cuisine.

“I want to give people from Ann Arbor a tough choice, like ‘Should we move to Clinton or Tecumseh?’ And hopefully, this will sway people,” Gibson said.

Gibson said that initially they hope to focus production on vodka, gin and whiskey — utilizing locally sourced ingredients, specifically corn sourced from Clinton and the surrounding farms.

“We’re going to do all corn, which is kind of unheard of to do all corn for vodkas and gins,” Gibson said. “But what I’m most excited about, like during (Clinton) Fall Festival and really big events in Clinton, we’d really like to make a special, one-off — like a 2018, aged fall festival rum .... Something special or unique to Clinton.

“I would love to do a Michigan juniper gin — like everything comes from Michigan. I would even go up north with a pickup truck and come back with whatever I needed, which would be great,” Gibson said. “I’m praying that it works out. It would be good for everyone. If it makes enough money to where it doesn’t go under, I don’t have to make a penny and it will be a success. Because, heck, if I can own something that makes it’s own liquor, is in Clinton, everybody loves it and the mill is being used again... then it’s doing good.”

Readers interested in contributing to the project can visit the Indiegogo site www.indiegogo.com/projects/atlas-distilling-company--4#/

More information could also be found at www.atlasdistillingco.com.