Alpena County OKs application for $72,000 MEDC block grant to buy emergency generators; board cites sheltering gaps after ice storm

The Alpena County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 25-09 authorizing the county to apply for a $72,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to purchase emergency generators.

County staff described the MEDC allocation as a direct response to an earlier ice storm that left parts of the county without power. "Because of the ice storm, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the MEDC has allocated money to each of the counties that was impacted by the storm. Alpena County has allocated $72,000 in a Community Development Block Grant, to provide for generators," a county staff member said during the meeting. The staff member told the board county officials must specify how they will use the funds before the MEDC will release them and asked the board to authorize the county chair to sign and submit the application paperwork.

The staff member said the county had asked whether…