our story
Historic Downtown Alpena is the economic and cultural hub of Northeast Michigan and the heart of the City of Alpena. Located on the shores of the Thunder Bay River and beautiful Lake Huron, Downtown Alpena has been the economic hub of the area since its 1800's history as a major lumber port. Walk through downtown and you'll discover a variety of architectural styles from Italianate to brutalist that tell our community's story from our settlement in the 1880's to the economic peak in the 1960's to the revitalization that started in the 2000's.
Now Downtown Alpena is home to a diverse and vibrant set of over 200 businesses, including art galleries, three theaters, a winery, brewery, and cidery, the only Marine Sanctuary located on the Great Lakes, and a variety of offices, restaurants, bars, non-profits and shops. Alpena is the third largest city in Northern Michigan, second only to Traverse City and Cadillac, and our downtown is proud to be the commercial and cultural heart of our community.
If you haven’t visited in a while, you’ll find that a lot has changed. There are so many new spots of growth, with new retail businesses opening their doors, new restaurants serving delicious meals, year-round festivities and events, and your favorite shops and spaces waiting to welcome you to our corner of the world.
Downtown Alpena is vibrant, artsy, and growing. Come join us!
Now Downtown Alpena is home to a diverse and vibrant set of over 200 businesses, including art galleries, three theaters, a winery, brewery, and cidery, the only Marine Sanctuary located on the Great Lakes, and a variety of offices, restaurants, bars, non-profits and shops. Alpena is the third largest city in Northern Michigan, second only to Traverse City and Cadillac, and our downtown is proud to be the commercial and cultural heart of our community.
If you haven’t visited in a while, you’ll find that a lot has changed. There are so many new spots of growth, with new retail businesses opening their doors, new restaurants serving delicious meals, year-round festivities and events, and your favorite shops and spaces waiting to welcome you to our corner of the world.
Downtown Alpena is vibrant, artsy, and growing. Come join us!
what's new
BUY DOWNTOWN DOLLARS, GET A FREE STICKER!
Buy Downtown Dollars, get a FREE limited edition Downtown Alpena sticker! Through the rest of April, when you buy Downtown Dollars, you will get a free Downtown Alpena sticker, hot off the press! Downtown Dollars can be used at 55+ downtown stores, restaurants, and businesses, from hair salons to the movie theater to your favorite downtown lunch spot. Purchase them at:
Offer is also valid on online orders for shipping or pick up. |
FRESH WAVES 2024 APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
We are looking for artists and property owners interested in being part of our Fresh Waves project this year! Applications are now open and due on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at midnight. The DDA Promotions & Marketing committee will review all applications at the end of April and determine the best fit for this year's project. All property owners must give final approval on the design. All murals must be complete by September 30, 2024. |
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES- FACADE GRANT APPLICATIONS OPEN
In 2024, the DDA expanded its Façade Grant program to allow properties that are residential in use to apply for grant funding and designated a separate pool of funding for grant awards to eligible residential façade grant requests. Properties that are exclusively residential in use (such as single family, multi-family, duplexes, townhouses, or rentals) are also able to apply for funding through the program. Properties may apply for up to 50% of eligible façade costs with a maximum of $10,000 request/facade. Applications are due on the following dates:
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announcements
now accepting downtown dollarsWe are excited to share the following businesses now accept Downtown Dollars:
upcoming meetingsThe Alpena Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors is having a special Strategic Planning meeting on Friday, April 19 from 12- 3 pm. There will be no voting on policy, budgets, or any other operational matters. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss future goals of the Authority. A Strategic Plan will be presented and voted on at a future Board Meeting.
The meeting will take place at the Alpena Yacht Club (250 Prentiss St). |
facade grants now open
The Alpena DDA is looking for applications from property owners who are considering updating the facade on their building! The DDA received $400,000 to support facade renovation projects throughout the DDA district, including the newly expanded area.
Properties can apply for up to 50% of project costs in grant funding. The second deadline to apply for funding is Friday, May 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm. check out the dda's 2023 annual report
6 new businesses. 5 new apartments. $2,442,590 of private investment. $1,431,091 in grants secured by the Alpena DDA. Learn all about the growth that happened in Downtown Alpena in 2023 by viewing our Annual Report below.
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