Alpena County approves Youth and Recreation, Older Persons allocations
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ALPENA -- The Alpena County Board of Commissioners voted to approve allocations from the Youth and Recreation and Older Persons funds, $691,780 and $754,839 respectively. The county will distribute those funds to the grantees early next year.
Youth and Recreation Committee Chairman Tony Suszek presented the allocation recommendations to the commissioners on Tuesday at the monthly full-board meeting. He noted that this allocation cycle was not "as stressful" because the committee only received 26 requests, totalling $691,780.
Suszek said in past allocation cycles, local requests had been "well over" $1 million, higher than this year's cycle.
He explained that the committee will meet with groups applying and advise them to search for grants elsewhere that may better fit their requests.
"We're always talking as a group to see if there's other funding," Suszek explained. "We want to be partners with the community."
The top allocations for 2027 are as follows:
-- The Aplex Community Center for $112,400
- Alpena County Plaza Pool for $111,040
- MSU Extension for $67,905
Suszek explained that for MSU Extension, $54,939 is allocated for "instructional support" whereas the difference goes to a secretarial position within MSU Extension. The secretarial position, according to Suszek, is paid for in partnership between the county and the committee.
According to his report, The Aplex received grants for resurfacing the pickleball court, the special needs prom and SNAP program, and a golf simulator. The Plaza Pool received grants for $100,000 for operating costs and the Safety, Splash, Swim program.
He added that in the "last couple of years" the committee added a "contingency fund" which allows the committee to award smaller amounts to community groups, outside of the grant cycle window.
This contingency fund will be $75,000 in 2027.
"If they got turned down by a grant proposal, we would be able to throw that in that particular year," he said. "It just gives us some flexibility throughout the year."
Commissioner Chairman John Kozlowski expressed concerns regarding the contingency fund and how it has grown over the years.
"My concern is that we don't want to get away from those individuals that are putting in for the grant," Kozlowski said. "We don't want to get away from the intent of the youth and rec. grant program."
Suszek said when groups apply for the contingency fund, they have to include a rationale as to why they missed the May 1 deadline. He said that the committee would consider applications if groups missed a deadline.
"That is something for the committee to discuss ... we don't want to hurt kids either, so we put that flexibility in there and each one can be discussed at this point if that's the case," he added.
Older Persons Committee Chairman Craig Zelazny also presented to the board on Tuesday and noted the impact the committee funds have on the senior population in Alpena.
"I think our committee did a good job this year of dispersing the money," he said. "We had 13 line items."
He added that the committee was able to 100% fund a "couple big ones," which included meals on wheels and general funding for the senior center.
"We did a pretty good job of spreading out the rest," he said.
The top allocations for 2027 are as follows:
- Alpena Area Seniors Citizens Council, Inc for $576,062
- Habitat for Humanity for $124,547
- Alpena County Plaza Pool for $42,062
The Seniors Citizens Council received grants for general funding, Meals On Wheels, and SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Prog), a medication management program, and Senior Project Fresh. Habitat Humanity received a grant for its Home Plus Aging in Place Program, and the Plaza Pool for its Senior Health and Fitness Connection program.
The Older Persons' allocations totaled $754,839 for 2027 and the county will disperse those funds in early next year.
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.