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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There are many elements that are part of an economic development program, these need to be present if the plan has any real chance of gaining traction. These elements include adequate housing, a talent attraction and retention program, proper financial incentives, local government regulations that support growth, an area that offers a quality of life which can take on many forms from recreation, arts and culture, access to quality education and healthcare, and consumer convenience, just to name but a few. Of course, there also needs to be access to a diversified labor force for a company to consider bringing jobs to our area. While this list is not fully comprehensive, it hopefully provides a framework for one to see that this puzzle contains many key pieces which need to be present to complete.
We score high in several of these areas. Some areas are being developed and will continue to take time. In many cases there is a “chicken and egg” scenario that needs to be addressed. For us, like most of the communities north of M-55, the chicken and egg are talent attraction and housing. It is almost impossible to get one without the other. Throughout the region, this issue is being addressed. Locally our city, township and county officials recognize the need for a plan to develop housing if we want to grow the region. We need more places for people to live if we want to add to our population totals by attracting people of all ages to the area.
I’m glad to see steps being taken to help address this need. I’m glad to see the conversations underway to address zoning restrictions that stand in the way of housing development. Absent these conversations, the hurdles would continue to stand in the way of progress.
Along with this, I am fielding more calls from developers seeking information on availability of properties to add to our housing stock. I know of one large parcel (approximately 20 acres) having been purchased by a developer with housing being the primary consideration for the site. They requested the most recent housing studies, which show the overwhelming need. I know of several other developer inquiries on other larger pieces of land as well. I am aware of a mixed-use project that would include market rate apartments and potentially condos, that is currently in the exploratory phase. That project will require many of the elements cited above to bring it to reality. Local officials including the brownfield authority, the local unit of government, and the MEDC are working collaboratively with the developer. The hope is that when all these mechanisms are in place, the financial metrics for the project makes sense for the developer to move forward. Of course, this will also require local contractors (and manpower) with the availability to handle the project, access to the various building supplies and materials at a cost that makes sense, and lastly anticipated market demand for the finished product at the assumed rates. If we don’t have the workers to build it, then it will not get built. Hard to attract the workers we need if they don’t have a place to live when they get here. It makes sense, if we want to add population to the region, we need to add to the housing units to accommodate the growth. The takeaway of this update is that this need is being addressed across the region by local stakeholders and more importantly developers are beginning to show interest. I believe if it is built (and the pricing makes sense) they will come.
In closing, it is hard for me to believe that this is my 24th update. That means it has been two years since I slid into this role. I know it sounds cliché but time sure moves quickly as I grow older. What a great experience so far. It is so rewarding to see the progress we are making as a community and region. I look forward to seeing what the next two years brings for the area. As always, more to come next month.
In the meantime, be well and stay well and enjoy your holidays.
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)
Huntington National Bank
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
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.
Northern Abstract & Title Agency
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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
Red Brick Tap & Barrel
Ramada Alpena/Sneakers Bar, Grill & Arcade
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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