STARBASE Alpena has reopened!
​STARBASE Alpena would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the Economic Generator Network (EGN) for their generous donation. Their support plays an important role in helping us inspire and educate the next generation of innovators and leaders in Northeast Michigan.
Community support like EGN’s allows us to provide hands-on, inquiry-based STEM learning experiences that empower area students and helps shape their futures. We deeply appreciate all community partners who have donated and want to thank anyone who will help us make a difference.
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This could be you! Right now, every donation will be matched by EGN, up to $65,700, which doubles your impact!​
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​As you may know, STARBASE Alpena was forced to pause program operations on February 7, 2025. This closure affected not only our local site but all 90 STARBASE programs across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam, including Battle Creek and Selfridge here in Michigan. Your support is crucial in helping us move forward and continue inspiring young minds through STEM education.
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Why did this happen?
STARBASE is part of the Department of Defense. Each year, Congress passes funding bills for the federal government, which, when signed by the president, become law. We entered our current fiscal year on October 1, 2024, with no budget in place. The federal government is currently operating on a continuing resolution, providing limited funds. We’ve been told the funds for STARBASE are fully expended.
How did we get here?
As the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate navigate the path forward for funding the federal government, they disagree on how much to allocate for the 90 STARBASE locations. Currently, the House has proposed $60 million; the Senate has proposed $20 million. As a result of this disparity, the DoD comptroller (the financial reporting and accounting office) is acting conservatively and only released $20 million for all STARBASE locations during the continuing resolution. On Wednesday, January 29, our DoD program manager informed us that we must close our operations on Friday, February 7, because the DoD comptroller will not release additional funds.
How long will this last?
We do not know if this shutdown is temporary or permanent. We will only learn this once Congress passes the appropriations budget and the president signs it into law. If the Senate concedes to the House and increases the STARBASE budget to $60 million, we’ve been told we can resume operations. If the House concedes to the Senate and lowers the budget, we likely face permanent closure to STARBASE.
What can you do?
​STARBASE, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates STARBASE One at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. We can fully accept any monetary donation you would like to make. (Your contributions may be tax deductible.)
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With your critical financial contribution, we can supplement the shortfall in our budget while Congress makes a determination. The funds we raise can help us function in some form during this time.
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Your support is vital and will make a difference. We will update our fiscal status regularly to keep you up to date.
All of us at STARBASE thank you for your time and support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@starbaseone.org or 989-354-6332.​
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Respectfully,
The STARBASE Alpena Team