It could be easy to miss in individual stories reported in between the doom and gloom of the coronavirus or what’s happening in Washington, but many, many exciting things are on the horizon in the Alpena area.

In a recent update to the Alpena Municipal Council, economic development guru Mike Mahler listed many:

∫ Jeff Konczak’s plans to renovate the State and Royal Knight theaters and the former Antique Mall along 2nd Avenue downtown

∫ The new hospital tower under construction

∫ The renovation of Alpena Community College’s Van Lare Hall

∫ Discussion between Alpena Public Schools and Aldi for a grocer at the current site of the school district’s bus garage.

∫ Mahler’s own efforts to recruit a retailer, “a name people are familiar with,” to the city; Mahler said he can’t talk specifics because of a confidentiality agreement

That’s an impressive list of ongoing development projects for any community at any time, let alone a rural community such as ours in the midst of the pandemic.

We are excited to see so many things in the works, congratulate everyone involved on the work done so far, and wish all involved luck on continuing success into the future.