Grand Traverse Band Shares Plans For NMC Boardman Lake Campus

Two days after The Ticker broke the news that Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) was eyeing the potential sale of its Boardman Lake Campus to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB), the tribe has shared more details about its plans for the property.

In a press release sent to local media on Wednesday afternoon, GTB said it is “pleased that NMC is is giving serious consideration to the tribe’s offer to purchase the Boardman Lake Ottaway River Campus building.” According to the release, the tribe’s intention “is to repurpose the facility as a centralized governmental services center dedicated to delivering programs and services for Grand Traverse County and the surrounding region.” This kind of “centrally located campus,” the release said, “would improve access to essential tribal services, enhance coordination across GTB departments, and better meet the needs of the tribal community.”

The release did not clarify whether the Boardman Lake property would replace GTB’s existing satellite office in Grand Traverse County, which is located off Three Mile Road at 845 Business Park Drive. That facility also serves tribal members in Antrim County.

“GTB sincerely appreciates NMC’s thoughtful and responsive consideration of our proposal,” said Tribal Chairwoman Sandra Witherspoon. “The Ottaway River Campus presents an opportunity to expand and strengthen governmental services for our members while making productive use of an existing community asset. The site is beautiful, and the tribe anticipates maintaining the area for access by all members of the public for recreational purposes and lake and river access.”

The release said that GTB will share “additional details” about the offer “as the review process progresses.” Notably, neither NMC nor GTB have disclosed a dollar amount for the tribe’s offer to purchase the property.

NMC’s Board of Trustees voted on Monday evening to enter into negotiations with GTB to sell the Boardman Lake Campus. The property previously served as NMC’s University Center for 30 years, before university partners moved to the college’s main campus this fall. NMC had since issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking potential tenants interested in leasing space in the building. If the tribe signs a letter of intent to buy the property by December 30, then NMC President Nick Nissley is authorized to suspend that RFP.