Quality of Life

Education

Alpena Public Schools, located in the cultural, economic, and educational hub of northeast Michigan, is a Class A district. They serve a population of approximately 3,900 students in six elementary schools for grades K-5, a junior high for grades 6-8, and a high school for grades 9-12 as well as an alternative high school program. The District’s mission statement reflects their close connection with the people they serve. “Alpena Public Schools, in partnership with our community, teaches and challenges all students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens. We strive to advance academic achievement for all students and to maintain good communications with students, parents, staff, and our community.”

Named one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute in 2015-16, Alpena Community College has received national recognition for excellence in student completion, affordability, technical programs, and workforce development initiatives. IPEDS data shows that its student completion rates rank in the top three among Michigan’s 28 community colleges each of the past five years. Due to a high proportion of Pell-eligible students in conjunction with a generous supply of endowed scholarship support provided by friends of the College, IPEDS data demonstrates that affordability is at the top of its comparison group of 10 small, rural, comprehensive Michigan community colleges. Unique occupational programs in concrete technology, utility technology, and marine technology draw students from beyond the five-county Northeast Michigan service district. Its workforce development programs, honored in 2007 by the United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration as first in the nation in the category of educating America’s the 21st century workforce, have maintained cutting edge innovation and responsiveness supported in 2011 and 2014 by two USDOL/ETA Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training grants totaling $5.3 million. The College has established state and national leadership in Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle (drone) testing and training. Five ACC faculty won prestigious statewide awards for occupational teaching excellence at the TRENDS conference in fall 2016. In spring 2017, the nursing and allied health programs received program accreditation from the national Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) in April 2017. In September 2017, the College received 10 years re-accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. In spring 2018, ACC lineworkers won the national championship at the College Lineman’s Rodeo in Nebraska. ACC is a community college prized by its stakeholders with a culture comprised of many strengths. Connecting to the community is a fundamental core value at ACC.

 

Healthcare

MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena is a 139 licensed-bed medical center that serves the health care needs of residents throughout northern Michigan. Alpena’s first community hospital, the Donald McRae Hospital, opened in 1915. In 1940, Alpena General Hospital opened. On April 1, 2016, Alpena Regional Medical Center joined MyMichigan Health, making it the fifth Medical Center in the MyMichigan Health system.

Accredited by The Joint Commission, the Medical Center has approximately 1,000 employees, 200 volunteers and about 100 physicians.

In addition to 24-hour emergency care, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena provides patients with access to a full continuum of health care services normally found only in much larger communities.

MyMichigan Health provides a full range of services in specialty areas, including:

  • Behavioral Health Services
  • Cancer Care
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Orthopedics
  • Pain Management
  • Rehabilitation Services
  • Sleep Center
  • Surgical Services
  • Women’s Health
  • Wound & Hyperbaric Medicine

MyMichigan Health full-service Cancer Center has been in partnership with Michigan Medicine, the health care division of the University of Michigan, since 2001. The state-of-the-art facility offers advanced medical and radiation oncology, chemotherapy and infusion services in a convenient setting.

To learn more about MyMichigan Health visit www.mymichigan.org.

 

Arts and Entertainment

A thriving arts and cultural renaissance defines Alpena and Northeast Michigan with a rich variety of events, venues and experiences to engage a broad palate of interests. Opportunities to immerse oneself in arts, culture, history and the humanities while recreating with nature abound in Alpena and the region in addition to more traditional outdoor recreational pursuits.  

Alpena and the region take great pride in nurturing a deep history of traditions, cultural experiences and institutions in our town, ARTown Michigan. Through individual and collaborative endeavors, arts and culture are fostered in what is a healthy, vibrant and thriving community. Alpena hosts a national marine sanctuary, two live performing theatres, an independent arts, history and science museum, several art galleries, a thriving local music culture, one of the oldest arts councils in the State of Michigan, festivals, and a quaint collection of burgeoning culinary experiences with wineries, a brewery and so much more.  

Arts and culture help drive both tourism and entrepreneurship, but they also provide a sense of place where people want to live, work, play and recreate as locals and visitors alike. Arts and culture serve as an important catalyst for population development and the retention of community youth and professionals. Research confirms environmental quality has a significant impact on motivation, attitude and engaging in the more ethereal endeavors of life, learning and work. Healthy and vibrant communities are of vital interest to improving upon the aesthetic qualities of our community’s “campus,” enhancing the natural beauty of the preserved public and private spaces while also enhancing overall economic and community development.  

Alpena and the region strive for state and national standards of excellence, enhancing “pride of place” and the overall experience for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. Come recreate with arts and culture in a beautiful natural setting. Alpena and Northeast Michigan are a great place to live, work, visit, and play, enticing people to a region rich and plentiful in arts and culture in ways that rival the best Michigan has to offer elsewhere, if not exceeding in its pristine nature.

 

Activities

It’s what sailors have always searched for when the weather took a turn for the worst, a sanctuary. Isn’t that what we’re all looking for today amongst these shouting headlines? Our friendly, historic city may be just what the doctor ordered. Alpena is that place where history and heritage collide with relaxed outdoor adventure. Your base camp for adventuring through Northeast Michigan. A modern city at nature’s doorstep. We’ve turned the volume down and slowed the pace a bit so you can relax, rejuvenate and discover your family and what matters most in life, all over again, in your Sanctuary of the Great Lakes.