Courtesy Photo The Alpena County Library Makerspace recently earned the Outstanding Contributor Award, presented by the Economic Generator Network.

ALPENA — The Economic Generator Network Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Contributor Award is the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library Makerspace.

The Outstanding Contributor Award (OCA) is an award presented by the EGN to an individual, group of individuals or organization that makes significant contributions to building the foundation for economic growth in Northern Michigan.

The OCA not only recognizes the recipients but the award also comes with $15,000 to be used as the recipient wishes.

The Makerspace has contributed to the economic growth in Northern Michigan by providing a space to play, tinker, discover and create. The space offers various opportunities to empower individuals of all ages with the knowledge and tools to create, innovate, and improve technical skills, potentially sparking a passion to pursue for a lifetime.

The Makerspace includes Tinker Tuesday, open lab time, Makey Makey, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, 3D Printing, Strawbees, littleBits, Snap Circuits, sewing and more.

The competencies the Makerspace helps develop in the future workforce are in high-demand by employers across the region.

The EGN is a nonprofit organization made up of Northeast Michigan citizens and organizations who have a shared goal of continually improving the economic vitality of Northeast Michigan citizens by solving product-related problems for people around the world. Past recipients of the OCA include Alpena FIRST Robotics, Industrial Arts Institute in Onaway, and Melissa Doubek.