Since last month’s update, here are some more details that have emerged for some of the items mentioned.  

• Housing Region E Leadership Role - In early May, Target evaluated a new MSHDA program seeking a lead organization for our Region which includes 11 counties. This is an important role that will impact housing initiatives for years to come. For these reasons, Target elected to pursue the lead role and submitted our application. We were selected for this opportunity and will now have a seat at the table to help shape the housing programming that will impact our region for the next many years. Lenny Avery is leading the charge on this initiative for Target. Lenny is well suited for this role in that he has experience with MSHDA and he is the person representing the housing planning activity for the local Alpena Housing Task force.  

• Former Habitat Site - The Eagle Venture Project is getting closer to becoming a reality. The developer is working to secure an anchor tenant. A tenant has potentially emerged, so the developer is working to finalize details. The client will be able to commit one way or the other this summer. If they are going to enter a lease, the developer would be breaking ground this fall. This tenant has indicated they need to in by December 2024.  

• The MEDC RAP 2.0 (Revitalization and Placemaking) Program for 2023 - This is the program we used to secure the grant last year to support the Habitat project above. We are looking at submitting another sub-grant application that includes multiple projects that will be part of a regional request. As of now, it looks like we will be seeking all $6.0 million for Region 3 to support three projects. One of the projects is a real estate project in Alpena (APC site), another is a real estate project in Rogers City and lastly, the third project is a placemaking project for the City of Onaway. What I love about this application is that we are supporting three communities across two counties. I believe this will make our application much more competitive. We are in the process of pulling together all the required intake materials for our application, to turn it in before the June 30 deadline. My hope is that lightning will strike twice and we end up with all the regional funds within our two-county service area.  

• APC Site - We have interest and movement again on this important site. As mentioned in the previous paragraph we have a project for the site that will be part of our grant funding request through the MEDC RAP Program. A developer team was here in early/mid May for two days. They flew into town and brought their architect with them. The time spent with them was productive and included City staff, and the DDA, answering questions about the site and to get their perspectives on the proposed project. They are planning a mixed-use, multi-story project with market rate apartments, a restaurant and maybe retail or co-working space on the lower level. The developer is early in the process so the project scope could change but the initial thoughts are four stories with parking beneath the building at ground level. This developer team has completed many projects to date and this one is rather small for them but given the small lot size, the number of units is limited. Should this project move forward, it will go a long way to adding to the vibrancy of our downtown and adding badly needed units of housing to our community. I am expecting an option agreement from them to acquire the site in the coming days. 

There are many more projects percolating in our area. I will address some of them in future monthly updates as appropriate. 

Until next month, be well and enjoy this great time of year!    

Mike

The chamber and economic development teams are focused on our missions and continue to work for you and Alpena.

Chairman Level ($5,000+)

Alpena Agency, Inc.

Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union

Alpena County

Alpena Power Company

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Charter Township of Alpena

City of Alpena

Edward Jones – Andrew Kowalski, Bryan Strong, Charles R. Ingle, Eric M. Ferguson, Marc K. Ferguson, Pamela Kirchoff

HPC Credit Union

Lappan Agency

MyMichigan Health

Nicolet National Bank

Presque Isle County

Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-Op

Wolverine State Credit Union

Leader Level ($3,200-$4,999)

Alpena Community College

Bannan Funeral Home/Huron Monuments and Memorials

Lafarge Holcim

Partner Level ($1,600) 

Alpena Community Credit Union

Alpena Public Schools

Bedrock Contracting and Excavating

Besser Company

Builders First Source

Clearview Car Washes/Pennzoil Ten Minute Oil Change Center of Alpena

Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan

Downtown Development Authority

Decorative Panels International (DPI)

DTE Energy

ITC Holdings, Corp.

Keystone Rental Equipment

Northland Area Federal Credit Union

Plowman's Collision Service

PNC Bank

Propane Plus Inc./MI Stop Citgo Station/BC Pizza

Thunder Bay Transportation Authority

Tier4 Technical Support

Walmart

Sponsor Level ($500)

Alcona Health Center - Alpena

Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Alpena Beverage Company

Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library

Alpena Events Complex

Alpena Furniture Co., Inc.

Alpena News Publishing Company

Alpena Supply Company

Appliance Repair USA

Austin Brothers' Beer Company

Awakon Federal Credit Union

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

Employment Services Inc

Goodwill Northern Michigan

Goyette Mechanical

H&R Block

Harbor North Dental Associates

Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Huntington National Bank

Huron Engineering & Surveying

Industrial Image, Inc.

KFC/WMCR

Lewis & Lewis Professional Surveying, Inc.

McDonald's Restaurant

Meridian Contracting Services, LLC

Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium

Midwest Diesel Service

Midwestern Broadcasting Company

NEMROC, Inc.

Northern Eye

Northern Title & Escrow Agency

Nowicki's Sausage Shoppe/ The Old Polish Corner

Omega Electric & Sign Company Inc.

Ossineke Industries

Peninsula Fiber Network

Presque Isle Township

R.A. Townsend Company

Ramada Alpena

RE/MAX New Horizons

Real Estate One of Alpena

Red Brick Tap & Barrel

ServiceMaster Home & Office

Sherwin Williams

Skiba Insurance Service

SkyWest Airlines

Specification Stone Products

Star Staffing Alpena

Straley Lamp & Kraenzlein P.C.

Stratford Group Ltd.

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

Thunder Bay Winery/ Regalo Luxury Gifts

True North Radio Network

Veolia

W.G. Benjey Inc./ S & A Co., Inc.

Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Werth Development, LLC

West Design Center, LLC

Wolgast Corporation

Young Appliance, Electronics, Furniture & Mattresses

Zen 24 Hour Fitness Center