ALPENA — As 2023 ended, Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties saw different levels of economic growth.

Alpena’s market, for example, has seen large projects and economic development come in and wrap up over the years.

Alcona will soon see a large Lincoln Center centered toward senior citizens.

Presque Isle County will see the controversial development of an 803-acre DTE Energy solar farm.

ALPENA COUNTY

“When I moved here, there was no Walmart, there was no Meijer or Culvers,” Mike Mahler, director of economic development for the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “None of that existed. So you just see how much development has occurred on M-32 and now it’s pushed all the way out to the (Alpena County Regional Airport).”

Mahler said stores such as the newly opened Marshalls department store on Bagley Street and the still-developing Aldi grocery store, despite being based solely near Alpena on M-32, will help all communities in Northeast Michigan.

“It looks like the market has accepted the store here, which we knew they would,” Mahler said about the new Marshalls that opened on Aug. 10. “I mean, we’re losing clothing stores here, we’re losing places to get that kind of stuff. And so people were really very hopeful that we could get Marshalls here. Because, again, there’s limited places to buy clothes, there’s limited places to buy shoes, there’s limited places to buy the kind of stuff that they sell here.”

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Developer Mike Curis, of Alpena Retail North, helped supervise construction of the Alpena Marshalls and is currently building Aldi on Crittenden Court, off of M-32 West.

He said he could not comment on either project, but could only say he’s “excited for the Aldi’s to serve the area of Alpena.”

Cassidy Kelly, marketing manager of Marshalls, also would not comment on the success of its Alpena store to a News reporter.

Aldi will take two lots off of Crittenden Court, constructing an approximately 20,000-square-foot building and 92 parking spaces. The two lots total about 2.3 acres and the front of the store will face M-32.

Curis said the Aldi store is projected to open in the second quarter of 2024.

Construction has started both on the Aldi plot and on the plot across the street, where a Hampton Inn and Suites will open.

Another development underway in Alpena is a suite of small drive-thru locations being built for Quiznos, Biggby Coffee, and Taco Del Mar where the former county jail previously sat on Johnson Street.

The location was purchased by Alpena Marc, which is owned by Jeff and Tina Konczak, owners of the successful Sanctuary Cinema that opened on May 19 in downtown Alpena.

PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY

Presque Isle County currently has projects and construction underway that, according to Mahler, will give tax money to the county and its townships, helping the local area by boosting its economy.

The largest upcoming project in the county is the DTE Energy solar farm expected to break ground next year.

The Presque Isle County Planning Commission voted seven-to-one on Nov. 9 to approve a permit that allowed the farm to be built, despite some residential backlash.

“That’s a $240 million project and another $20 million in labor to install it,” Mahler said. “That’s a huge win for the area, and it’s going to put $1 million into the tax coffers of the county and townships that wouldn’t be there otherwise. That’s big money.”

Mahler said he’s working with others to bring a grant to Rogers City to build lodging for people to stay overnight, which he said is one of the largest elements that needs to be addressed not just in Rogers City but throughout all of Northeast Michigan.

ALCONA COUNTY

The Northeast Michigan Housing Alliance-Region E was formed to implement plans to add 5,000 new housing units and renovate 5,000 existing buildings in Alpena, Alcona, Crawford, Cheboygan, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Otgego, Oscoda, Roscommon, and Presque Isle counties.

Doug Cheek, chairman of the Alcona Economic Development Committee, said that, while large companies have not made plans to build new facilities within the county, a new senior center and housing complex, along with efforts to push better internet and cellular service, may aid in turning Alcona into a prime location for developers.

“There is activity in Alcona,” Cheek said. “Right now, we have a lot of great grassroots shops, such as the resale shop on Main Street in Harrisville, Precious Paws Resale Shoppe. There is activity and the places that open up are doing great, but, if we don’t keep our eyes on the structure and internet of the county, it might not go so well.”

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. gave a $12.5 million grant to the Alcona County Commission on Aging, which will be used to build a new senior center in Lincoln. The property had its groundbreaking on Oct. 12.

The center would, according to architect Jonathan Lee, feature a gymnasium, a multi-use event space, a fitness center, and classroom.

MONTMORENCY COUNTY

Dawn Hubbard, administrative assistant of the Montmorency Controller’s Office, is also a part of the Montmorency County Economic Development Corp. She said that she’s one of the only people still a part of the corporation.

She said that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the county government gave about $8,000 to 32 small businesses from the $250,000 that the county received from the federal government.

“It didn’t help,” Hubbard said. “We’d love to see new businesses coming to our county, but, right now, there’s not much. We’re just collecting funds.”

She mentioned that townships within the county may have smaller projects in development, but that the county is the “last to know.”

Officials from both Hillman and Briley Townships could not be reached for comment.