TAKING PRIDE IN ALPENA: SOUTH CORRIDOR FEBRUARY 19, 2013 MEETING RECAP

The Taking Pride in Alpena: South Corridor committee had a meeting on February 19 at the Chamber of Commerce to discuss our goals for 2013. The key topics of the meeting were a discussion of the formulation of a business association, volunteerism, and the reduction of blight. Having only organized as a grass roots effort on August 27, 2012 much has been accomplished! Several business have picked up trash and cleaned up their parking lots and around the front of their buildings Several unused mailbox posts were removed A few businesses have done some painting prior to the cold weather 43 businesses have submitted formal pledges for property improvements in the Spring Are working with Marie Twite on several blight projects resulting in letters written to property owners to enforce the blight ordinance. In a recent county survey, 82% of the respondents indicated blight was a primary concern with 23 South being the most mentioned area o Have 1-2 meetings per month with Marie o Attend the monthly township board meetings to address the trustees MDOT scheduled an extra street cleaning for the Fall in addition to the scheduled two cleanings per year Area businesses are offering discounts on products such as Sherwin Williams, Neimans, Building Express, and Kipfmiller Citizens and businesses have combined their efforts Have met with numerous area agencies to create awareness of our efforts Have secured a spokesperson, Betty Westrope, to write a column for the newspaper and area radio and television stations, as well as sending an e-letter Have developed a Facebook page entitled Taking Pride in Alpena: South Corridor Following are our goals for 2013: Investigate the creation of a South Corridor Business Association to improve the vitality of our businesses. A planning meeting will be held on March 13 at the mall from 5:30-7:00. Keep in mind that in the recent county survey, 74% of respondents indicated they left town to go shopping at least 1-2 times per month. New development is coming to M-32 and US 23 North. o Take the project of eliminating blight a step further- make the corridor esthetically pleasing with curb appeal for our businesses o Make the corridor a destination for local and out of town shoppers due to its concentration of business, and variety and uniqueness of retailers o Possibly create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) or Business Improvement District (B.I.D.) to generate revenue and offer loans o Develop a 501(c) (6) non-profit status and investigate grants for reclamation including faade and streetscape improvements (US 23 Heritage Route funding), and do fund raisers to generate matching grant money, etc. o Plan future events such as a Pride in South Corridor Day with late store hours, food, etc. Contact all businesses and residences again for follow through on pledges for property improvements Work with the township on seal coating and maintaining the bike path

We recommended funds to be budgeted for the upcoming year for repairing and resurfacing the bike path as needed for the entire length o Notified the township that snow is not being removed regularly, creating an ice build up Continue to work with the township on blight and dangerous building issues. o At Marie Twites suggestion, we are targeting five blighted buildings per month for follow up with the building inspector o We recommended that funds be increased for the upcoming years budget for blight and dangerous building enforcement Discuss the formation of a special committee to address blight by investigating creative solutions for the blight problem o Examine township codes and ordinances to see if strengthening is needed to address blight, signs, paint, litter, and grass cutting o Investigate enforcement procedures for writing citations and streamlining warning notices o Analyze fees, expenses, and revenue generation Request the township apply for a Community Development Block Grant and a Brownfield designation to address blight Organize a Spring Cleanup Day on May 16-17 o MDOT to clean the street o Business to donate staff time to help clean their approaches to the highway o Citizens and other volunteers to assist. (PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ASSISTING!) Organize volunteer groups for paint crews, flower planting, and to help homeowners cleanup their property. o Steve Plowman offered to lead this initiative!! o Matt Dunckel volunteered his time recently to help a gentleman improve his property Tie into the Alpena- Sanctuary of the Great Lakes logo with plans for businesses to display in their window Create a South Corridor neighborhood around its unique features such as shopping, Thunder Bay, etc. o Similar concept as the North River District

Volunteerism and action are keys to our success for improving the economic vitality and appearance of 23 South in Alpena! Please get involved if you are not already. We also request the township to get more involved in the blight issue by enforcing the blight and dangerous building ordinances. We, as a group, will do everything we can to work with property owners. We ask that you get involved in instances where owners will not agree to clean up their property or in cases where buildings are a danger to the public.