From the Economic Development Desk of the |
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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.
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I don't have a lot of new information on projects to share since last month so I will hit on a couple of new items.
Target operates two loan funds. One of them is the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) which was originally funded through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Alpena County. As part of the CARES Act, we were given an opportunity to defederalize this fund which opens the door for us to have more flexibility with how we loan and use these funds. In late May we applied for and were granted Defederalization Status. Given this change, we have now opened this fund to be used in other counties outside of Alpena. This month the Target Board authorized the addition of Presque Isle, Alcona, and Montmorency County businesses to be eligible for borrowing from Target through this fund. If you have a business, or know someone who has a business, in one of these counties, and need a loan, we may be an option for you. Loan amounts up to $50,000 are available.
The City of Alpena applied last week for a grant through a Department of Defense (DoD) program to replace the still water wells that are an essential part of the municipal water system. The two still wells in place are approaching the end of their useful life. The reason I mention this is because of the outstanding collaboration between the City and the Alpena CRTC to put a very compelling application before the DoD review committee. Since the CRTC gets 100% of their water from the city municipal water system, this project is a priority for them. Special thanks to Col Rossi, Lt Col Shay, Katie Wolf from The Friends of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, who loaned her grant writing talents to this process, and of course the City Staff Steve and Charlie on a great job putting this together. If successful, this grant would save the City over $5 million.
There are so many projects being explored in the area it’s hard to report on them all. The good news is that like anything, it's a numbers game. The more deals that are in the works, the greater the likelihood that some will move from exploratory into actual construction. No two deals are alike! There are so many elements than can influence the outcome of a deal moving forward or stalling. The buyers, sellers, government entities, banks, lawyers, and the community in general all influence potential outcome. Some deals have the additional burden of government processes and/or public hearings which may slow things down and add an additional layer of complexity. Add material costs, labor shortages, fuel prices and lack of building materials to the mix and you get more elements that influence the outcome. I mention this because I give public reports all the time. The updates I provide are based upon an honest portrayal of what I know at the time. These elements cited above can alter the course of these projects which none of us have control over. At times it is frustrating, this is why there is benefit to having so many deals being considered.
It's great to see so much interest in our community. I have never seen our downtown busier that it has been this summer. Passing through town on Tuesday morning, I saw a group of ladies coming from GLIK'S with bags in hand and walking into Cedar & Threads. What a great sight! Our DDA is changing for the better with more dining and shopping options adding foot traffic to areas that hasn’t seen much in the past. As our downtown improves, so does the rest of the community.
Be well and stay well,
Mike
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We here at the chamber and economic development are still focused on our missions and continue to work for you. |
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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
Huron Monuments and Memorials
Lafarge
Lappan Agency
mBank
MidMichigan Health
Presque Isle County
Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-Op
Wolverine State Credit Union
Partner Level ($1,500)
Alpena Community Credit Union
Alpena Public Schools
Bedrock Contracting and Excavating
Besser Company
Builders First Source
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 Station
Northland Area Federal Credit Union
Pennzoil Ten Minute Oil Change Center of Alpena
PNC Bank
Propane Plus Inc.
State Street Auto Wash
TCF Bank
Tier4 Technical Support
Timm Construction Company, LLC
Vintage Auto Wash
Walmart
Sponsor Level ($475)
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Alcona Health Center - Alpena
Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Alpena Beverage Company
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
Banner Realty
Besser Foundation
Boldrey, Senchuk, Rouleau & Williams, CPA's, PC
Bolenz Jewelry
Building Express Inc.
Century 21 Northland
Clark Construction Company
Cliff Anschuetz Chevrolet Inc.
Cocoa Capital Corp
Compassus Hospice
Consumers Energy
Control Solutions Inc.
Dean Arbour Ford Lincoln
Devere Industrial, LLC
Downtown Union 76 LLC
Everett Goodrich, Inc.
Fiber Char
H&R Block
Harbor North Dental Associates
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Huntington National Bank
Huron Engineering & Surveying
Industrial Image, Inc.
KFC
Lewis & Lewis Professional Surveying, Inc.
McDonald's Restaurants
Meridian Contracting Services, LLC
Michigan Works Center
Midwest Diesel Service
Midwestern Broadcasting (WATZ)
NEMCSA, Inc.
NEMROC, Inc.
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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.
RE/MAX New Horizons
Real Estate One of Alpena
ServiceMaster Home & Office
Sherwin Williams
Skiba Insurance Service
SkyWest Airlines
Specification Stone Products
Star Staffing Alpena
Straley Lamp & Kraenzlein P.C.
Stratford Group Ltd.
Suez
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 Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Thunder Bay Tree Services, LLC
True North Radio Network
W.G. Benjey Inc./S&A Company
Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Werth Development, LLC
West Design Center, LLC
White, Wojda and Curtis
Wolgast Corporation
Young Appliance, Electronics, Furniture & Mattresses
Zen 24 Hour Fitness Center
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