From the Economic Development Desk of the
November 20, 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.
Here are some highlights of recent Economic Development activities...

  • Followed up on status of the Michigan Launch Initiative RFI
  • Discussed 2020 SBDC resources with their regional manager
  • Met with representatives of Alcona County; shared with them ideas on how to grow their own economic development efforts
  • Developed retention visit schedules with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Met with a local business owner regarding a possible expansion
  • Served on a panel to evaluate community development proposals at Thunder Bay Junior High
  • Discussed loan subordination policies with a primary lender
  • Reviewed loan reporting schedules with the US Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

One of Jim Klarich's final messages (but not his last!)...

People are never shy about letting us know what we need next. At our recent GMA, I tried to communicate what I believe we need next. It’s not a store or a restaurant or anything like that - it’s a shift in our appearance. What I mean by that is we’ve reached a point where we need to seriously consider developing and implementing a common visual theme between the City and the Township. Expand the streetscape, lighting, tree lined streets, bike paths, etc. that exist in the City throughout all of our corridors. This type of infrastructure is an attractant and would go a long way to helping future development, redevelopment, more mixed use, and residential opportunities outside of the City limits if it were in place. I know that it sounds difficult but it would certainly grow our overall value proposition. We encourage our Governments to think beyond boundaries when they begin discussions and planning for work like this.

Save the dates!
The Chamber's 2020 Annual Dinner will be on February 6, 2020.
The 2020 Annual Economic Development Breakfast will be on April 14, 2020.

Thank you for your input on what you'd like to see in this newsletter. We are working on making improvements and changes for 2020 and are looking for ways to incorporate many of your suggestions.
We would like to recognize the following members who have made commitments to move up or joined at a higher tier:

Builders First Source - Partner Level
RE/MAX New Horizons - Sponsor Level
Whitecaps - Sponsor Level
Chairman Level ($3,201+)
Alpena Agency, Inc.
Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union
Alpena Community College
Alpena County
Alpena Power Company
Bannan Funeral Home
Besser Foundation
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
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
Wolverine State Credit Union

Leader Level ($3,200)    
Edward Jones - Marc Ferguson, Charles Ingle, Pamela Kirchoff, Andrew Kowalski, Bryan Strong
Lafarge 
MidMichigan Health
 
Partner Level ($1,500) 
Alpena Community Credit Union
Alpena Public Schools
Bedrock Contracting and Excavating
Besser Company
Builders First Source
Chemical Bank
Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan
Downtown Development Authority
Decorative Panels International (DPI)
DTE Energy
Employment Services Inc. (ESI)
The Home Depot
ITC Holdings, Corp.
Keystone Rental Equipment
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
  
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.
Compassus Hospice
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.
Lewis & Lewis Professional Surveying, Inc. 
Michigan Works! Center
Neiman's Family Market
NEMCSA, Inc.
NEMROC, Inc.
Northern Eye
Omega Electric & Sign Company Inc.
Ossineke Industries
Plowman's Collision Service
Pompeyos Mexican Grill
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 Services
SkyWest Airlines
Specification Stone Products
Straley Lamp & Kraenzlein P.C.
Suez
Sunrise Behavioral Health Clinic  
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
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
Zen 24 Hour Fitness Center