Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners Approves Resolution Advancing Project Alpha
On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to purchase, acquire, and construct capital improvements and to publish notice of intent to issue municipal securities to fund construction associated with Project Alpha.
Project Alpha will include the development of a new combined Emergency Operations and Communications Center (EOCC) as well as a Centralized Operations Building (COB) that will house the operations of Facilities Management and the Commission on Aging’s outdoor services. The project is intended to modernize and centralize key county operations while enhancing emergency coordination and operational efficiency for Grand Traverse County services.
The resolution approved by the Board serves three primary purposes:
1. Officially declaring the County’s intent to purchase, acquire, and construct the proposed capital improvements.
2. Establishing the maximum amount of debt that may be issued to fund the project.
3. Initiating the required public notification process, also known as the referendum period, which will last 45 days.
In addition to the resolution, the Board reviewed and approved several documents related to the next steps necessary to move Project Alpha into the construction phase.
Standard form construction agreements for the project were previously approved at the February 18 Board of Commissioners meeting. At the March 18 meeting, commissioners were presented with the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the project, set at $27,795,000, along with supporting project documentation. The GMP remains within the range of the original budget presented in Spring 2025, while also incorporating an additional $2,250,000 in scope, including increased facility square footage, geothermal wells, solar energy systems for both facilities, a potable water well, underground stormwater retention, a snowmelt system, and a planned rain garden to be developed in collaboration with The Greenspire School.
The GMP reflects the most qualified, lowest bids for all required contracted work, with 84% awarded to local Grand Traverse County subcontractors. It underscores the commitment of the Board of Commissioners to meet community needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility and advancing environmental stewardship.
The materials presented included the substantial completion date, detailed project specifications, a comprehensive list of construction drawings, and a project timeline. These elements were developed and presented by the project’s construction manager, Cunningham-Limp. Other firms involved in the project to date include Partners in Architecture, Monument Engineering Group, and the Spicer Group.
The COB will be located at 2604 LaFranier and the EOCC at 2608 LaFranier, behind the County’s current Health Services Building at 2600 LaFranier. Groundbreaking is expected to begin in mid-April of 2026, with estimated completion dates in April 2027 for the COB and June 2027 for the EOCC.
Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners Approves Resolution Advancing Project Alpha
On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to purchase, acquire, and construct capital improvements and to publish notice of intent to issue municipal securities to fund construction associated with Project Alpha.
Project Alpha will include the development of a new combined Emergency Operations and Communications Center (EOCC) as well as a Centralized Operations Building (COB) that will house the operations of Facilities Management and the Commission on Aging’s outdoor services. The project is intended to modernize and centralize key county operations while enhancing emergency coordination and operational efficiency for Grand Traverse County services.
The resolution approved by the Board serves three primary purposes:
1. Officially declaring the County’s intent to purchase, acquire, and construct the proposed capital improvements.
2. Establishing the maximum amount of debt that may be issued to fund the project.
3. Initiating the required public notification process, also known as the referendum period, which will last 45 days.
In addition to the resolution, the Board reviewed and approved several documents related to the next steps necessary to move Project Alpha into the construction phase.
Standard form construction agreements for the project were previously approved at the February 18 Board of Commissioners meeting. At the March 18 meeting, commissioners were presented with the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the project, set at $27,795,000, along with supporting project documentation. The GMP remains within the range of the original budget presented in Spring 2025, while also incorporating an additional $2,250,000 in scope, including increased facility square footage, geothermal wells, solar energy systems for both facilities, a potable water well, underground stormwater retention, a snowmelt system, and a planned rain garden to be developed in collaboration with The Greenspire School.
The GMP reflects the most qualified, lowest bids for all required contracted work, with 84% awarded to local Grand Traverse County subcontractors. It underscores the commitment of the Board of Commissioners to meet community needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility and advancing environmental stewardship.
The materials presented included the substantial completion date, detailed project specifications, a comprehensive list of construction drawings, and a project timeline. These elements were developed and presented by the project’s construction manager, Cunningham-Limp. Other firms involved in the project to date include Partners in Architecture, Monument Engineering Group, and the Spicer Group.
The COB will be located at 2604 LaFranier and the EOCC at 2608 LaFranier, behind the County’s current Health Services Building at 2600 LaFranier. Groundbreaking is expected to begin in mid-April of 2026, with estimated completion dates in April 2027 for the COB and June 2027 for the EOCC.
