​PROJECTS + ACCOMPLISHMENTS FY 2020/ 2021

The following is a list of the Alpena DDA's accomplishments, projects, investments and events for FY 2020/2021.
The DDA's fiscal year runs July 1- June 30.

Design & Beautification

• Reviewed and revised our Facade Grant program and procedures. 
• ​Continued our partnership with NEMROC and had three employees work seasonally to pick up trash, cigarette butts, and beautify our downtown.
• Continued investing in outdoor tables, benches, bike racks, and flower boxes to place throughout the downtown.
• Contracted with Falls Creek Produce & Flowers to decorate Culligan Plaza with live greenery for the holiday season. 
• Supported the closure of the alleyway between Second and Third Avenue to vehicular traffic on a trial basis for the summer and fall months.

Ongoing Investments

• Downtown Street Performer series, May through October $1,000
• Alpena Chamber of Commerce + Economic Development $1,500
• Fresh Waves Mural Project $10,000
• Hanging flower baskets $3,400
• Outdoor furniture $2,400
• Fresh greenery in Culligan Plaza for the holidays $1,400
• Summer employee for downtown maintenance + projects through the City $1,500

Promotions 
As part of our promotions of the downtown district, this year we launched:

• Vibrant, Artsy, Growing campaign on social media.
• Downtown Dive-In feature on Instagram to highlight DDA programs, projects, grants, and events.

To promote the downtown, we also:

• Wrote and published 19 blog posts on Blog Downtown Alpena with over 7300 views and 3500 visitors.
• Continued a monthly radio advertising package through True North Radio Network
• Continued to maintain Downtown Alpena's social media accounts and website
• Continued to maintain relationships with local media and run relevant advertisements to promote events and general downtown awareness (social media, print, radio, digital)​​

Events

• July  24 & 25- Sidewalk Sales
• Summer 2020- Coffee & Cars
• October 22- Flannel Fun Night
• November 18- Virtual Holiday Shopping Night
• December 12- Jingle Bell Crawl
• December 12 & 19- Virtual Storytime with Santa
• February 25- Snowed In Virtual Shopping Event
• March 25- Spring Fever Shoptacular
• May 2- May 8- Small Business Showcase
• June 19- Blues Festival

Economic Development

• Supported small businesses by awarding COVID-19 relief grants to match All in for Alpena awards totalling $13,775.
• Launched our Retail Recruitment Grant Program, which provides grants up to $10,000 for existing businesses to relocate or expand into the DDA district.​
• Created a Grow Your Business Downtown tri-fold and a dedicated page on our website with information about local and state resources for new and existing businesses.
• Submitted two Match on Main grant requests through the MEDC in March 2021. Red Brick Tap & Barrel was awarded a $25,000 grant through the program to renovate the alleyway next to their building and transform it into a vibrant outdoor seating and bar area.
• Prepared & launched the Downtown Alpena Social District in partnership with the City of Alpena. The Social District allows patrons 21+ to purchase an alcoholic beverage from a business who has received a Social District Permit and walk around the district with it.

FUTURE PLANS

Ongoing projects and priorities for the remainder of 2021 & 2022 include:

• Replace existing bike racks and flower baskets to rent out to businesses
• Evaluate boundary expansion and update Downtown Development & TIF Plan
• Continue to execute marketing campaigns to promote the downtown district (social media, newspaper, radio, TV)
• Invest in the alleyways downtown to make them more pedestrian friendly
• Beautify areas around trees and improve landscaping downtown
• Continue hosting promotional events (Chowder Chili Cook-off, holiday events, Mural Celebration) and launch new events such as Restaurant Week & Ice Festival

As of June 30, 2020, the DDA had $284,219 in its fund balance. As the 2004 TIF + Development Plan describes, this balance is expected to contribute to the following projects which require a larger amount of investment: 

• Economic development initiatives & recruitment programs, including Retail Recruitment Program (ongoing)
• Streetscape & Parking Lot improvements: Second Avenue, downtown parks, parking lot enhancements (5 year goal)
• Parking improvements such as pay-for-parking and parking structure (5 year goal)

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​PROJECTS + ACCOMPLISHMENTS FY 2019/ 2020

The following is a list of the Alpena DDA's accomplishments, projects, investments and events for FY 2019/2020.
The DDA's fiscal year runs July 1- June 30.

Design & Beautification

• Purchased new winter banners featuring local artwork 
• Planted twenty-three new trees in the downtown district 
• Contracted with Falls Creek Produce & Flowers to decorate Culligan Plaza with fresh greenery during the holiday season 
• Commissioned local artist and blacksmith Jake Idema to fabricate two large bike racks to be placed in front of the Antique Mall on North Second Ave & Culligan Plaza ($6,600 total)

Ongoing Investments

• Downtown Scrims for vacant properties with Art in the Loft $1,000
• Downtown Street Performer series, May through October $1,000
• Alpena Chamber of Commerce + Economic Development $1,500
• Fresh Waves Mural Project $10,000
• Hanging flower baskets $3,200
• Outdoor furniture $2,400
• Summer employee for downtown maintenance + projects through the City $1,500

Promotions 

• As part of our promotions of the downtown district, this year we launched:
  • Seasonal promotional videos, which were filmed by Irving Entertainment
  • Coffee with Kingsli, a weekly series on Facebook Live 
  • Monthly radio advertising package through True North Radio Network
• ​Continued to maintain Downtown Alpena's social media accounts and website
• Continued to maintain relationships with local media and run relevant advertisements to promote events and general downtown awareness (social media, print, radio, digital)​​

​
Events

• Downtown Sidewalk Sales (July 2019)
• Downtown Mural Celebration: Fresh Waves (August 2, 2019)
• The Longest Table (August 25, 2019)
• Chili Chowder Cook-off (October 5, 2019)
• Rise Artisan Market (October 26, 2019)
• Bard at the Bar (November 13, 2019)
• Small Business Saturday (November 30, 2019)
• Visit with Santa weekends (December 14 & December 21, 2019)
• Leap Year Local (February 29, 2020)
• Virtual Shopping Nights  (May & June 2020)

FUTURE PLANS

Ongoing projects and priorities for the remainder of 2020 & 2021 include:

• Launch Retail Recruitment program
• Replace existing bike racks and flower baskets to rent out to businesses
• Evaluate potential boundary expansion
• Create Historic Plaque program for historic buildings downtown
• Continue to execute marketing campaigns to promote the downtown district (social media, newspaper, radio, TV)
• Continued event hosting (Chowder Chili Cook-off, Bard at the Bar, holiday events, Mural Celebration)

As of June 30, 2019, the DDA had $315,820 in its fund balance. As the 2004 TIF + Development Plan describes, this balance is expected to contribute to the following projects which require a larger amount of investment: 

• Business development & recruitment programs, including Retail Recruitment Program (launch this year)
• Culligan Plaza updates (2-3 year goal)
• Streetscape & Parking Lot improvements: Second Avenue, downtown parks, parking lot enhancements (5 year goal)
• Parking Structure Investment (5 year goal)

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PROJECTS + ACCOMPLISHMENTS FY 2018/2019

The following is a list of the Alpena DDA's accomplishments, projects, investments and events for FY 2018/2019.
The DDA's fiscal year runs July 1- June 30.

Design & Beautification

• Invested in new white lights for downtown holiday decorations
• Purchased new bows for downtown holiday wreaths
• Invested in fabrication of new holiday wreaths
• Re-landscaped Pocket Park with Prattscape, laid new irrigation
• Purchased downtown banners featuring local artwork
• Facade Grants awarded
  • ​129 W. Chisholm St. $5,000
  • 500 W. Fletcher St. $5,000
  • 109 W. Chisholm St. $5,000
  • 109 & 111 River St. $10,000

Ongoing Investments

• Downtown Scrims for vacant properties with Art in the Loft $1,000
• Alpena Chamber of Commerce + Economic Development $1,500
• Fresh Waves mural $12,000
• Hanging flower baskets $2,000
• Outdoor furniture $2,400
• Summer employee for downtown maintenance + projects through the City $1,500

Promotions 

• Ran a digital marketing campaign with Q+M Agency
  • New branded digtal graphics $1,000
  • Influencer Outreach $850
  • New landing page $3,000
  • Paid marketing campaign $5,900
• Created a new portfolio of professional photography of the downtown with Don La Barre Photography
• Launched Downtown Ambassador Program for social media
• Created promotional videos with Irving Entertainment for 2020 launch

Events

• Downtown Chowder & Chili Cook-off (October)
• Bard at the Bar (November)
• Runaway Elves, Downtown Gingerbread Competition, Visit with Santa weekends (December)
• Alpena Blues Festival & DDA Family Zone (June)
• The Longest Table (August)
• Downtown Mural Celebration (August)

FUTURE PLANS

Ongoing projects and priorities for the remainder of 2019 and 2020 include:

• Alleyway improvements- making them more pedestrian-friendly and accessible
• New bike racks- replacing existing ones and consolidating bike parking
• New flower baskets for businesses to rent out
• New networking and outreach to downtown businesses (economic development initiative)
• Continued promotional campaigns (social media, newspaper, radio, TV)
• Continued event hosting (Chowder Chili Cook-off, Bard at the Bar, holiday events, Mural Celebration)

As of June 30, 2018, the DDA had $297,815 in its fund balance. As the 2004 TIF + Development Plan describes, this balance is expected to contribute to the following projects which require a larger amount of investment: 

• Streetscape & Parking Lot improvements: Second Avenue, downtown parks, parking lot enhancements (5 year goal)
• Parking Structure Investment (5 year goal)
• Land Acquisition & Economic Development Opportunities (business incubator, performing arts center) (2-3 year goal)

View more budgetary and fund balance information here.