News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Alisha Bouchard, Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce director of events, shows off signs businesses can hang in their windows if they donate to the annual fireworks fundraising campaign. The Chamber has changed how they will raise money for the Fourth of July event this year.

ALPENA — The Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce will raise money differently this year for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show.

For years, the Chamber sold rubber bracelets and pins, with the proceeds going toward the popular event that caps off Independence Day.

Now, the Chamber is counting on local businesses, as well as their employees and customers, to compete against one another to raise the $25,000 needed for the fireworks.

Chamber Director of Events Alisha Bouchard said the goal is to have 50 Northeast Michigan businesses donate $500 each. She said the new format could become competitive as businesses challenge others to match or surpass the amount they donated.

The Alpena Fire Department was the first to donate $500 and made the initial challenge to others. Five other local businesses have followed suit already.

Bouchard said the new fundraising idea is exciting and allows businesses an opportunity to one-up each other for bragging rights.

She said business owners can collect money from their employees, customers, vendors, or others to raise the donation, or simply cut a check on their own.

Bouchard added residents and neighborhoods could also collect funds to donate and issue their own challenges.

In return for their generosity, donors will receive a sign to hang on the front door of their business, organization, or home, a Facebook Live video of the donor presenting the donation to a member of the Chamber staff, and other social media shoutouts.

Each donor will also be included in an ad in The Alpena News, which will run sometime during the week of July 4, Bouchard said.

Businesses outside of Alpena or those who are not members can also contribute to the fireworks, too, Bouchard said.

During past fireworks fundraising campaigns, people would donate money or purchase pins and bracelets, but Bouchard said it was time to mix things up.

She credited Alpena Fire Department Community Risk Reduction Capt. Andy Marceau for coming up with the new platform.

“Selling the bracelets has become a little stale, and we had a lot leftover the last couple of years, so I think it was time for a change,” she said. “I think it really says something that the men and women who have to work on the holiday to protect us care enough about the fireworks to want to help pay for them for us to enjoy.”

Bouchard said the Chamber will still accept donations, which can be dropped off at the Chamber office. She said the holiday celebration in Alpena has become popular not only for residents in Alpena, but others from around the state, and the fireworks show helps the local economy.

This year, all of the popular events, such as the parade, Alpena News Sandcastle Contest, concert in the park, and fireworks are expected to return.

The Maritime Festival, which was put on the backburner because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is also slated to make its return, Bouchard said.

“We have a great celebration, and all you have to do is look around at the parade and fireworks to see how many people there are and how much fun they are having to know how big it is for our community,” she said.

Bouchard said the deadline to submit donations is June 15, so the fireworks vendor knows how much money they will have to design the show, which Bouchard said could be bigger this year if the fundraising goal is met or exceeded.