​Join our growing community of businesses and entrepreneurs in Downtown Alpena.

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Downtown Alpena is home to a diverse and vibrant set of over 200 businesses--offices, restaurants, pubs, shops, art galleries, a year-round professional live theater, a winery, and the first National 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

​Benefits of locating your business in Downtown Alpena:

• ​Co-operative marketing opportunities (digital, print, radio)
• Foot traffic & visibility from year-round festivals and events
• Networking opportunities with other downtown businesses
• A walkable location with a high density and diversity of businesses

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.

For more information about starting, relocating, or expanding your business in the Alpena area, contact Alpena Economic Development Director, Mike Mahler, at (989) 354-4181 or [email protected]

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 [email protected]

Grants & Incentives​

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.

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. Property owners may apply for up to $10,000 (required 50% cash match). Applications are due September 15 & May 15 each year. 

Contact Alpena DDA Executive Director, Anne Gentry, at (989) 356-6422 or [email protected] for information on the programs in this section.