Target Alpena Development Corporation

Target Alpena Development Corporation is Alpena, Michigan's one stop for regional economic development. Combining a Revolving Loan Program with friendly, educated staff who understand the difficulties facing the region, Target is dedicated to bringing a higher quality of life to all the residents of Northeast Lower Michigan.

Target Alpena operates as a clearinghouse for regional difficulties, serves to market Alpena to the rest of the world as a place for growing business, and provides loan capital for small business startup in the region. A priority focus for Target is the rise of entrepreneurship in Alpena through economic gardening and business training programs.

Current Projects

The Executive Pulse software is currently being implemented for Alpena County. What is needed from the community are business goers to fill out a short survey regarding their experiences with a business they go to. This information will be compiled into the software, and allow Target to track local economic data. Once completed, please return the survey to the Target office.

Target is in the process of developing a Marketing and Recruitment Plan for Alpena County. This would help to attract business to the area by informing them of what Alpena has to offer. This would include distributing the newly developed Economic Profile for Alpena County, which is complete, and is available at the Target Office.

Target has just unveiled its Strategic Plan to the public. This document has been in the making for six months, and has had input from all sectors, including governmental entities, and involvement from both the private and public sectors. Target is very proud of the time spent with this document and hopes that it will help to shape Target's focus over the coming years.

The Future Leaders Committee, a subcommittee of Target has been hard at work developing its Customer Service Quality Initiative. This project rewards excellent customer service in Alpena. It has been turned over to the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce.

Also, the Future Leaders Committee is developing a youth based forum to determine what younger people want to see in Alpena which would put them in a better disposition to return to live later in life. The Future Leaders Committee has been working with Alpena High School and Alpena Community College on this project. Recently, they met with students from all four grades at Alpena High School. Responses from these meetings are being compiled and will be posted shortly.

Community Supported Agriculture is an important project that Target is working on. Through this, local farmers will get more income, community service organizations will get fresh produce to serve to the poor and homeless.

Target is working with Alpena Community College and the Small Business Technology Development Center to get a feasibility study for an Industrial/Commercial Incubator. This will provide a place for local entrepreneurs to start their business in an environment that fosters growth. The feasibility study for this will be completed soon.

Target has received a grant to sponsor a Windmill Feasibility Study for Alpena. This would determine how well Alpena could produce alternative energy.

Target is working towards developing a Regional Port Authority, which would explore the possibility of dredging a public deep water port in Alpena.