Join our growing community of businesses and entrepreneurs in Downtown Alpena.
Downtown Alpena is home to a diverse and vibrant set of nearly 200 businesses--offices, restaurants, pubs, shops, art galleries, a year-round professional live theater, a winery, and the only Marine Sanctuary located on the Great Lakes. Whether you’re looking for the perfect location to open your newly launched business, wanting to relocate your business, or interested in expanding into a new market, opportunity awaits you in Downtown Alpena.
Downtown at a Glance
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Benefits of locating your business in Downtown Alpena:
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Business Resources
Target Alpena Economic Development Corporation
- Revolving Loan Program: This program offers loans from $5,000- $50,000 for businesses for new, existing, or expanding businesses in commercial, industrial, retail, service, office and high-tech industries.
- Micro Revolving Loan Program: Offers loans from $5,000- $30,000.
Small Business Development Center
- The Michigan SBDC provides consulting, training and research to assist small businesses to launch, grow, transition and innovate. For more information, contact Carl Bourdelais at (989) 358-7383 or carl.bourdelais@outlook.com
grants & incentives
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Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The mission of the MEDC is to achieve long-term economic prosperity for Michiganders by investing in communities, enabling the growth of good jobs and promoting Michigan’s strong image worldwide. The MEDC offers various grants and incentives for brick-and-mortar, multi-use renovation projects in the downtown. Redevelopment Liquor Licenses
By locating in the Downtown Alpena DDA district, businesses may be eligible to apply for a Redevelopment Liquor License. Eligible businesses must be engaged in dining, entertainment, or recreation and spend $75,000 into the rehabilitation or restoration of their building. |
DDA Recruitment Grant
The City of Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) established its Retail Recruitment Program to encourage existing established businesses (5+ years) to relocate or expand into the Downtown Alpena DDA district. Preference will be given to businesses that add to the diversity of businesses downtown. Grants are up to $10,000 to cover eligible relocation expenses such as capital improvements, moving costs, signage, rent differential, and utility switchovers. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Downtown Facade Grants
The Alpena DDA Façade Improvement Grant awards grants to projects that improve and preserve the exteriors of existing historic buildings within the DDA district. Matching grants up to $10,000, reviewed on a rolling basis. |
Contact Alpena DDA Executive Director, Anne Gentry, at (989) 356-6422 or anneg@alpena.mi.us for information on the programs in this section.