Feb 24, 2021
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.
9 & 10 News
February 22, 2021
On Monday, Republican and Democratic state legislators met with northern Michigan community colleges to talk about the ongoing success of the Michigan Reconnect program.
“Business grows when its workforce is strong,” says Nikki Devitt, president of the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Michigan Reconnect is a state-wide program that provides free tuition at Michigan community colleges for eligible students 25 or older.
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) says since the program started on February 2
nd, they’ve received more than 40,000 applications.
“In northern Michigan and the upper peninsula, a total of 395,000 residents would be eligible for this scholarship,” says Susan Corbin, acting director of LEO.
cnelson@thealpenanews.com
News File Photo
Alpena Community College welding instructor Tim Ratz, right, shows Olivia Price the setup for a generator during a welding class.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of a mixup at The News, an incorrect version of this story appeared on Page 1A Tuesday and briefly at TheAlpenaNews.com Tuesday morning. The correct version appears below.
ALPENA Alpena Community College has received a $2.4 million grant that will allow the college to purchase new equipment and double the space for its manufacturing and welding programs.
The U.S. Department of Commerce grant will pay for 80% of the project, while the college will pay 20%, or $600,000.
Alpena News editorial
Few things are more important to success than education, meaning not just books and classrooms but labs and shops where students can learn skilled trades.
And Alpena Community College has decided to participate in a state program meant to bring older students back to that promise of opportunity.
The Michigan Reconnect program offers scholarships to those 25 and older with a high school diploma but no college degree. It’s a full-ride for ACC’s in-district students in Alpena County and parts of Presque Isle County, but students in Alcona, Montmorency, and most of Presque Isle counties are considered out-of-district students and would still have to pay tuition, though at a reduced rate.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
ALPENA–The City of Alpena is taking action to recoup more than $800,000 in back taxes from a local manufacturer.
At Monday’s Alpena Municipal Council meeting, council voted unanimously to have city attorney Bill Pfeifer serve the Alpena Prototype Biorefinery LLC, American Process Inc, and GranBio LLC a notice of seizure of personal property for unpaid personal property taxes.
According to Clerk/Treasurer Anna Soik, there is $678,787 due in delinquent taxes on personal property for years 2016-2019. That total includes interest and penalty fees. They owe another $157,666 for 2020 summer and winter personal property taxes.
When American Process opened the plant, its intended use was to produce bioethanol, but little of that was made, mainly because of issues with the process that utilized waste from Decorative Panels International.