Steve Fletcher, Alpena Youth Sailing Team instructor-two, shows off some of the sailboats that would be stored in a proposed storage facility at the boat harbor in Alpena.

ALPENA — A pair of sailing groups in Alpena are looking to enter into a lease agreement with the City of Alpena for a small section of land at the small boat harbor so they can construct a building to store their fleet of boats and equipment, and train youth sailing participants.

On Monday, Alpena Youth Sailing Team Instructor-Two Steve Fletcher said the success of the sailing team, and the popularity of the Alpena Youth Sailing Club, has increased the need for storage and instructional space.

He said a new structure would cost less than $300,000 to build, and the groups intend to apply for grant funding to help build it.

Fletcher said money is lined up to pay for any match required for a grant, and the city would have no cost associated with it.

For many years, the groups have used a large, donated private storage unit, but after the upcoming winter, it won’t be an option any longer, the groups said. When that happens, the only storage area available will be in trailers the groups own.

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“We aren’t going to have a home other than two trailers and those are going to be our headquarters, our clubhouses, our everything,” Fletcher said. “We need space and a permanent home. We have grown up enough that your garage and my garage won’t hold the stuff we have.”

Fletcher said the groups have been working with Harbormaster Shannon Smolinski and believes the facility will be included in a master plan for the harbor that is currently being constructed.

The city is preparing to take over management of the harbor and marina after contracting with Thunder Bay Shores Marine. Making improvements at the facility is high on the city’s list of priorities.

Hopes are, a more modern marina, with updated amenities, will draw more people to come to Alpena on their boats and visit the downtown and other area attractions.