From the Economic Development Desk of the
May 15, 2019
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.
To give you an idea of our activity over the past month, keep reading...

  • Met with Habitat to discuss needs for residential housing in the region.
  • Provided an overview of our efforts and obstacles to overcome to the Rotary Club of Alpena.
  • Made three out of region trips to meet with developers and to review mixed use condominium and apartment projects in their communities.
  • Reviewed our economic development activities with the Montmorency County Economic Development Corporation Board.
  • Met with the Charter Township of Alpena to discuss the status of two potential projects.
  • Participated in a meeting at NEMCOG to review the status of a new entrepreneurial network website.

A Brief Message from Jim Klarich...
We’re tasked with going into projects that are both big and small with the larger the ask, requiring a more complex approach and an increase of time, money, and trying to get all of the pieces not only to fit together but fit together at exactly the right moment. For example: Let's say there is a very large building that’s available and it would be perfect for second floor apartments. That’s the easy part, lots of people would like to own apartments right? Add in that the building requires some seven digits of interior/exterior redevelopment cost and then add in that the math only works if there’s predetermined customer(s) for the first floor who is/are capable of paying the higher redeveloped building lease costs. AND they need to be available to move in the same time frame as the construction is completed. That makes it more complicated especially when the time frames are out two or more years. 

It doesn't take long for these projects to go from seeming simple to very complex. There are a lot of moving parts in many of these projects but we’re up to it, we’re on it, and we will make them happen.


Board Meeting Recap...
The Economic Development Board of Directors met on May 14, 2019 for their regular meeting. The following are highlights from the meeting. Many of the highlights are purposely kept vague because of the need for confidentiality.

  • The Board discussed the annual meeting and agreed that it was a solid event, with great attendance, content and feedback.
  • A discussion was had regarding interest in available lots at Commerce Park.
  • The Board voted to replace Kevin Burr (representing the County of Alpena) with Bill Peterson (representing the County of Alpena).
  • The loan program was discussed at length and it was determined that a new set of policies and procedures would be drafted.
  • Current interest on the former Alpena Power Company site was shared, as well as steps currently being taken to explore feasibility of a development at that location.

Board meetings are held every other month, with the next meeting being on July 9th.
We would like to recognize the following members who have made commitments to move up in tiers for 2019:

Bedrock Contracting and Excavating/Keystone Rental Equipment - Partner Level
Clark Construction Company - Sponsor Level
Sixty Minutes to Freedom - Sponsor Level
Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating, Inc. - Sponsor Level
Sponsored by
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Chairman Level ($3,201+)
Alpena Agency, Inc.
Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union
Alpena Community College
Alpena County
Alpena Power Company
Besser Foundation
Charter Township of Alpena
City of Alpena
H.P.C. Credit Union
Huntington Bank
Lappan Agency
mBank
Presque Isle County
Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-Op

Leader Level ($3,200)    
Edward Jones - Marc Ferguson, Charles R. Ingle, Pamela Kirchoff, Andrew Kowalski, Bryan Strong
Lafarge 
MidMichigan Health
 
Partner Level ($1,500) 
Alpena Public Schools
Bannan Funeral Home
Bedrock Contracting and Excavating/Keystone Rental Equipment
Besser Company
Chemical Bank
Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan
Downtown Development Authority
Decorative Panels International
DTE Energy
Employment Services Inc. (ESI)
The Home Depot
ITC Holdings, Corp.
LeFave Pharmacy
Northland Area Federal Credit Union
Pennzoil Ten Minute Oil Change Center of Alpena
PNC Bank
Propane Plus Inc., MI Stop Citgo, MI Stop Deli
Ripley and State Street Auto Washes
Star Staffing Alpena
Timm Construction Company, LLC
Walmart
Wolverine State Credit Union
  
Sponsor Level ($475)
Alcona Health Center
Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Alpena Beverage Company
Alpena Biorefinery
Alpena Community Credit Union
Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library
Alpena Events Complex
Alpena Glass Company, Inc.
Alpena News Publishing Company
Alpena Supply Company
Art Van Furniture/Young Appliance
Austin Brothers' Beer Company
Ball Tire
Banner Realty
Besser Senior Living Community, Inc.
Boldrey, Senchuk, Rouleau & Williams, CPA's, PC
Bolenz Jewelry
Cardell and Sons Landscaping
Century 21 Crow Realty
Clark Construction Company
Cliff Anschuetz Chevrolet Inc.
Consumers Energy
Control Solutions Inc
Cutting Edge Construction
Dean Arbour Ford Lincoln
Downtown Union 76 LLC
Everett Goodrich, Inc.
Fiber Char
H&R Block
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Huron Engineering & Surveying
Industrial Image, Inc.
Neiman's Family Market
NEMCSA, Inc.
NEMROC, Inc.
Northern Eye
Omega Electric & Sign Company Inc.
Ossineke Industries
Ossineke Township
Plowman's Collision Service
Pompeyos Mexican Grill
R.A. Townsend Company
R.S. Scott Associates, Inc.
Ramada Alpena
ServiceMaster Home & Office
Sherwin Williams
Sixty Minutes to Freedom
SkyWest Airlines
Specification Stone Products
Straley Lamp & Kraenzlein P.C.
Suez
Switzer Veterinary Clinic
Tarkington Family Dentistry
Team Elmer's
The Drug Store
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
True North Radio Network
W.G. Benjey Inc./S&A Company
WATZ
Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating, Inc. 
Werth Development, LLC
White, Wojda and Curtis
Wolf Family Dentistry
Wolgast Corporation