From the Economic Development Desk of the
August 28, 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.
Thank you for your continued support of our economic development efforts. It happened again two weeks ago. We were once again asked to consider providing economic development services for another County in Northern Lower Michigan.What a sign of confirmation that the work we do is making a difference and matters to the health of the community. When others want what you have, it is rewarding to know. Read below for sample of activities as of late, and a message from Economic Development Director, Jim Klarich.

  • Met with representatives from Cheboygan and Presque Isle to discuss joint initiatives
  • Met with our attorney to discuss a loan default
  • Met with a representative for one of our Senators
  • Closed another new small business loan
  • Met with the new tenants of the former K-mart building
  • Participated in a Presque Isle Economic Development Corporation meeting
  • Presented at a County Planning Commission meeting to assist with a project that is in the works
  • Met with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation community development team
  • Met with the United States Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to discuss our loan portfolio

A message from Jim Klarich...

Well, it’s done. After countless months which spread into years, the former K-mart building has new owners, new tenants, and a new mission. I won’t go into all of the details but I will say this, the importance of I2P’s expansion into that facility can’t be overstated. Our heritage and our economic strength lies within our manufacturing prowess and our ability to innovate and that’s precisely what will be taking place there. New concepts, ideas, and visions, joined together with cutting edge design, engineering, and manufacturing disciplines, will create the platform from which the seeds of future companies and additional opportunities will be sown. The word “exciting” can’t describe what I2P’s investment means to Alpena.

The "Kmart" project is an accurate example of how development happens. It is a lengthy process and it takes many players. It is great to see projects come to reality, especially knowing the kind of time and energy put into them. We can't wait to announce the next success!
There are no new economic development members this month but we have commitments from members who will be moving up in 2020.
Chairman Level ($3,201+)
Alpena Agency, Inc.
Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union
Alpena Community College
Alpena County
Alpena Power Company
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

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
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.
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
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
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
Skiba Insurance Services
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
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
Wolf Family Dentistry
Wolgast Corporation
Zen 24 Hour Fitness Center