News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Governor Gretchen Whitmer speaks on Thursday at the new Thunder Bay Community Health Service (TBCHS) headquarters and Bay Athletic Club (BAC).

ALPENA — Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited Alpena on Thursday for a ribbon cutting at the new Thunder Bay Community Health Service (TBCHS) and Bay Athletic Club (BAC) building.

Dr. Richard Bates, CEO of TBCHS, welcomed everyone to the event.

“Welcome to the official ribbon cutting of 200 W. Chisholm here in downtown Alpena,” he said. “Thunder Bay is part of a nationwide community health center movement, one of 48 health centers in Michigan and over 1,700 across the country. Together health centers care for over 715,000 Michiganders. In fact, one in five rural Michiganders receive their healthcare from a community health center.”

The building was once an old car dealership that was then transformed into a bank. Now it houses the TBCHS headquarters and the BAC.

Bates introduced Whitmer to the audience.

“In rural communities, we know that access to healthcare can be a huge challenge,” Whitmer said. “Hospitals, health clinics, staff, are too few and too far between.”

That grant for TBCHS was awarded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“The State of Michigan was proud to support the project with nearly a $1 million revitalization place making grant,” she added. “This particular clinic I think is a testament to meeting the need and forging ahead.”

According to Whitmer, 417 rural hospitals nationwide and nine in Michigan are at risk of closing.

Whitmer described the work she has done to improve healthcare, including signing a bipartisan bill that took action to protect licenses for 5,000 doctors in Michigan. She has also asked the legislature to take action on medical debt.

“Today, we can celebrate what is really a step forward for a healthier, stronger, better Alpena,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer did not address the flooding in Northeast Michigan and the damage to the roads during her remarks, but City Manager Rachel Smolinski acknowledged times have been tough the last month.

“I would be remiss though, if I did not acknowledge that this is an incredibly challenging time for our community,” Smolinski said. “With the second ice storm in less than a year and the current flooding that is impacting not only Alpena but all of Northern Michigan, and certainly around the state. Even in the face of these challenges, moments like today remind us of the strength, resilience, and forward momentum in our community.”

Later in the day, Whitmer attended a private event at the Alpena Community College, stopped in Rogers City to speak, and went to Cheboygan, where she commented on the flooding and dams that are being threatened.

Whitmer did not accept questions from local media while in Alpena about the ongoing state of emergency for the flooding.

Anne Gentry, Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) executive director, remarked that the new location of BAC has helped to revitalize downtown.

“People at all times of the day–and I’m downtown a lot, I mean all times of the day–are here working out, giving new energy and activity…to this important corner of downtown,” Gentry said. “We’ve already seen the spillover effects when people come to the Bay and then go to other downtown businesses.”

Trina Gray, BAC founder and CEO, highlighted the importance of collaboration in making the new BAC building possible.

“We are here today truly for just one simple fact,” Gray said. “We had enough good people come together at both the local level and the state level to do good things for others and that’s sometimes a lost part these days.”

After remarks were made, everyone went outside for the ribbon cutting. Whitmer and Bates held the pair of golden scissors with all the event’s attendees gathered around.

Reagan Voetberg. News Staff Writer. rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.