​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)

Covid-19 Support

• Hosted two free webinars with the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, Re-Opening Your Business (May) & Online Sales and Digital Marketing (May)
• Matched grant awards issued through the All in for Alpena program to sixteen downtown businesses ($13,775 total)
• Created a Reopening Video with Irving Entertainment that welcomed people back downtown after being closed due to the pandemic​

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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.