News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley U-Haul trailers are seen parked in the back lot at Frank’s Key and Lock Shop in Alpena on Friday. U.S. Census Bureau data shows a net more than 1,000 people moved into Northeast Michigan between July 2021 and July 2022.

ALPENA — More than 1,000 people moved to Northeast Michigan last year, both a boon and a headache for the region as officials scramble to build enough housing to handle the influx.

U.S. Census Bureau estimates out recently show a net 1,010 people moved into Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, and Alcona counties between July 2021 and July 2022, boosting the region’s population by a net 503 people, or about 1%.

Without that inbound migration, our region would be shrinking, the data shows. A total of 498 people were born in Northeast Michigan between July 2021 and July 2022, but 1,034 died. Without new folks moving into our region, we would have lost a net 536 people.

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The data doesn’t say from where people moved into Northeast Michigan, but our population gains mirror what the Washington Post on Thursday said is a national trend of people moving out of urban centers and into more rural areas.

“It’s gotta be just the natural resources, the lack of congestion, the affordable cost of living,” said Mike Mahler, economic development director of the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce. “All of those things are attractive. There are a lot of elements that make our area a great place to live.”

In Michigan, the Census Bureau estimated the biggest population losses happened in populous Wayne, Macomb, and Genesee counties. While the biggest population gains happened in metropolitan Ingham, Ottawa, and Washtenaw counties, the Upper Peninsula’s Marquette County made the list of the top five biggest population gains.

Michigan lost a net 3,391 people, despite a net 10,330 people moving in, because deaths far outpaced births in the state.

While he welcomed the news of more than 1,000 new Northeast Michiganders, Mahler said the region may struggle to support continued population gains.

“I think we’ve got the jobs” to support newcomers, Mahler said. “I think we don’t have the housing.”

Other census data shows 17,387 Northeast Michigan housing units were vacant in 2021, but just about 1.5% of those were for sale or rent. The overwhelming majority — 83% — were for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use, such as lake cottages and hunting cabins.

Alpena County had Northeast Michigan’s lowest net migration, with a net 114 people moving into the county between July 2021 and July 2022. Alpena County also had the region’s smallest share of vacant housing.

Mahler said he knew of multiple professionals who got jobs in Alpena but couldn’t find housing here and had to move into neighboring counties. Montmorency County had the region’s largest net migration, with 360 people moving into that county. Fifty-three percent of that county’s housing stock was vacant in 2021, according to the Census Bureau.

“You need three things: You need jobs. You need housing. And you need day care,” Mahler said. “If we’re going to attract young people, we have to have options for them. You have to solve all of those pieces.”

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The Michigan League for Public Policy considers much of Northeast Michigan a “child care desert,” with few options for affordable child care.

The Chamber has joined forces with leaders from Alpena County, Alpena, and Alpena Township to form a housing task force aimed at increasing housing options in the Alpena region. Mahler on Friday was poring over the results of a recent housing needs study commissioned by the task force.

The region has seen some housing wins. Last year, for example, economic development firm Target Alpena secured a nearly $5 million state grant to help defray the costs of a major construction project at the former site of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Chisholm Street. The project would include as many as 15 two- and three-bedroom apartments built on the upper level of the structure and commercial business space on the ground level . The commercial space could include a day care.

The project is expected to wrap up construction next year.

“In order for us to get people to want to come here, I really, truly believe, if you build it, they will come,” Mahler said.