From the Economic Development Desk of the
July 15, 2020
You are receiving this email because your organization is at one of the economic development tiers  with the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce. As always, we encourage your comments and questions.
Well it has been quite a week around here. The big news, which will be the focus of this update, is that there will be a second round of Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) grants and Target will once again oversee the process and take control of the funding. While there are some similarities to the first round, there are some notable differences. Among them:

  • $3.5 million will be available to cover the same five counties: Alpena, Alcona, Iosco, Presque and Cheboygan. Last round $200,000 in total was available.
  • The max grant request is $20,000 compared to $10,000 last round.
  • Nonprofits can apply this time. 
  • There is no loan program this round. 
  • 30% of all funds need to go to minority, woman or veteran owned businesses.
  • There will be a three week application window beginning on July 15 with the deadline being August 5 at Noon.
  • Applications will be done online on the MEDC website. 
  • No financial statements are required this round.  
  • Any unassigned funds are required to be returned to the MEDC by September 30.
  • Anyone that received a PPP, EIDL or MEDC loan or a Match on Main grant can still apply.

Among the similarities to the first round:

  • Target will not be involved in making decisions about the grants or the amounts.
  • A committee from all five counties will do the grading/scoring of the requests and make the recommendation on the level of support. Target will only coordinate all the activity and disburse funds once grants are committee approved.
  • Small businesses only (50 or less employees) that were negatively impacted by COVID can apply.  


In Other Matters...
The City and NOAA did both submit proposals for the new DCIP program that is part of the Office or Economic Adjustment (OEA). Priority will be given to infrastructure improvement projects that improve quality of life for military personnel and their spouses. Both projects will score well on that criteria. We should know in early August if the projects made the cut. 

I have had several calls in the last month with developers ready to commit to projects in Alpena. One project is getting close to an announcement and I would hope that it could happen soon. One of the others indicates the funding is in place and are only waiting on a price on the site which they have chosen. Lastly the third project has client ready to go if they can get the location, they have chosen at a price that make senses for the tenant and developer. These are encouraging signs!    

In the meantime, be well!    
Mike Mahler
We here at the chamber and economic development are still focused on our missions and continue to work for you.
Chairman Level ($3,201+)
Alpena Agency, Inc.
Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union
Alpena Community College
Alpena County
Alpena Power Company
Bannan Funeral Home
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Charter Township of Alpena
City of Alpena
Edward Jones – Andrew Kowalski
Edward Jones – Bryan Strong
Edward Jones – Charles R. Ingle
Edward Jones – Eric M. Ferguson
Edward Jones – Marc K. Ferguson
Edward Jones – Pamela Kirchoff
H.P.C. Credit Union
Huntington Bank
Lappan Agency
mBank
MidMichigan Health
Presque Isle County
Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-Op
Wolverine State Credit Union

Leader Level ($3,200)    
Lafarge 
 
Partner Level ($1,500) 
Alpena Community Credit Union
Alpena Public Schools
Bedrock Contracting and Excavating
Besser Company
Builders First Source
Chemical Bank
Clearview Car Wash
Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan
Downtown Development Authority
Decorative Panels International (DPI)
DTE Energy
Employment Services Inc. (ESI)
ITC Holdings, Corp.
Keystone Rental Equipment
LeFave Pharmacy and Compounding
MI Stop Citgo/MI Stop Deli
Northland Area Federal Credit Union
Pennzoil Ten Minute Oil Change Center of Alpena
PNC Bank
Propane Plus Inc.
Star Staffing Alpena
State Street Auto Wash
Tier4 Technical Support
Timm Construction Company, LLC
Walmart
  
Sponsor Level ($475)
Aflac
Alcona Health Center 
Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Alpena Beverage Company
Alpena Biorefinery
Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library
Alpena Events Complex
Alpena Glass Company, Inc.
Alpena News Publishing Company
Alpena Supply Company
Austin Brothers' Beer Company
Ball Tire
Banner Realty
Besser Foundation
Besser Senior Living Community, Inc.
Boldrey, Senchuk, Rouleau & Williams, CPA's, PC
Bolenz Jewelry
Building Express Inc.
Capital One Spark Business
Cardell and Sons Landscaping
Century 21 Crow Realty
Clark Construction Company
Cliff Anschuetz Chevrolet Inc.
Cocoa Capital Corp
Compassus Hospice
Consumers Energy
Control Solutions Inc
Cutting Edge Construction
Dean Arbour Ford Lincoln
Devere Industrial, LLC
Downtown Union 76 LLC
Everett Goodrich, Inc.
Fiber Char
H&R Block
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Huron Engineering & Surveying
Industrial Image, Inc.
KFC/WMCR
Lewis & Lewis Professional Surveying, Inc.
McDonald's Restaurant
Meridian Contracting Services, LLC
Michigan Works Center
Neiman's Family Market
NEMCSA, Inc.
NEMROC, Inc.
Northern Abstract & Title Agency
Northern Eye
Omega Electric & Sign Company Inc.
Ossineke Industries
Plowman's Collision Service
Pompeyos Mexican Grill
Presque Isle Township
R.A. Townsend Company
R.S. Scott Associates, Inc.
Ramada Alpena
RE/MAX New Horizons
Real Estate One of Alpena
ServiceMaster Home & Office
Sherwin Williams
Sixty Minutes to Freedom
Skiba Insurance Service
SkyWest Airlines
Specification Stone Products
Straley Lamp & Kraenzlein P.C.
Stratford Group Ltd.
Suez
Sunrise Behavioral Health Clinic
Switzer Veterinary Clinic
Tarkington Family Dentistry
Team Elmer's
The Drug Store/Northern Exposure Framing & Matting
The Home Depot
Thunder Bay Accounting
Thunder Bay Electric, Inc.
Thunder Bay Eye Care
Thunder Bay Family Dentistry
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Thunder Bay Therapy & Sports Medicine
Thunder Bay Tree Services, LLC
Time to Shine Carwash
True North Radio Network
W.G. Benjey Inc./S&A Company
WATZ
Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Werth Development, LLC
White, Wojda and Curtis
Whitecaps
Wolf Family Dentistry
Wolgast Corporation
Young Appliance, Electronics, Furniture & Mattresses
Zen 24 Hour Fitness Center