Do you own a business and have interest in joining the growing downtown community?

The Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) recently launched a new Recruitment Grant Program to encourage existing businesses to relocate or expand into Downtown Alpena. The program offers grants up to $10,000 per business that can be used towards eligible expenses such as:

• capital improvements
• moving costs
• signage
• rent differential
• utility switchovers

Businesses must have been established for five or more years with a proven track record of success to be eligible for the program and must be entering a three-year minimum lease or purchasing property within the downtown district. .

The DDA is looking for businesses that would add to the diversity of businesses downtown, such as a men’s or children’s apparel store, a shoe store, a bakery, additional fine dining restaurants, a small local grocery or convenience store.

The Alpena DDA has allocated $40,000 total from its Economic Fund balance to contribute towards the grant program. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the DDA Economic Development Committee, whose recommendation will go to the DDA Board of Directors. Before beginning an application, businesses must set up a pre-application meeting with DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry to ensure eligibility for the program and discuss the application process.

Those seeking more information or wanting to view the full program guidelines and application can visit https://www.downtownalpenami.com/recruitmentgrant.html or contact the DDA at 989-356-6422 or anneg@alpena.mi.us.

Anne Gentry is the Executive Director of the Alpena DDA whose mission it is to implement positive physical, aesthetic, and economic changes in the downtown. You can learn more about the DDA by visiting here.