Downtown Alpena offering grants to incoming businesses

ALPENA, Mich. — The Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has 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, and utility switchovers to their new location in Downtown Alpena. 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.

“We created this program to help attract businesses that would add to the diversity of businesses downtown,” said DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry. “A men’s or children’s apparel store, a shoe store, a bakery, additional fine dining restaurants, a small local grocery or convenience store—these are all businesses we would love to see open or relocate into our downtown district. We continue to have interest from businesses who want to join our downtown community, and we hope this program helps encourage existing businesses to make the move into Downtown Alpena.”

WBKB will have more as the story progresses.