Alliance News

Newsletter

May 2021

Upcoming Meetings

Alliance Board Meeting

Thursday, May 20

7:00 a.m.

Via Zoom Meeting

Alliance Executive Committee Meeting

Tuesday, May 25

3:30 p.m.

Via Zoom Meeting

Loyal to Local News

Presentation May 19

There is still time to register to attend the Annual Loyal to Local presentation webinar on May 19 at 7:30 am CT. The presentation will cover the progress throughout the first three years of the program and highlight the goals for the fourth program year that starts on July 1.

Please register to attend the webinar here. Questions? Please contact Rich Mortl at 906-282-0966 or Lois Ellis at 906-360-4653.

Announcement!

As you know, Rich Mortl has been one of the key driving forces behind the Loyal to Local effort. Rich “retired from retail” over a year ago and has recently moved to Gladstone to be closer to family. We wish Rich the best as he enjoys this new stage of his life! His contributions to Loyal to Local, the Alliance, and the community are significant, and we will miss his leadership. Thank you, Rich, for all of your support and work to enhance our community!

With Rich’s departure, we are very pleased to announce that Shana Thompson-Hegy will be stepping in to lead the Loyal to Local Planning Committee. Thank you, Shana! Shana is a member of the Alliance Board of Directors and has been serving on the Loyal to Local Planning Committee for several years. Rich and Shana are committed to a smooth transition, and we appreciate them both for their passion and ideas to help our business community prosper!

Legislative Update

Advocacy

Last month, Alliance Executive Director Lois Ellis participated in the Marquette County Ambassadors’ annual spring legislative visits, which were held virtually. The visits are key to establishing and maintaining relationships for the Alliance with our elected state legislators and state department leadership. Lois met with Senator Ed McBroom, Representative Beau LaFave, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, and leadership from 10 state departments, including the Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Housing

There is a great deal of activity related to housing issues across the state. A package of bills to address housing issues, recently introduced in the House and Senate, earned bipartisan support. The bills are endorsed by the Housing Michigan Coalition, which consists of community, business, and government organizations whose efforts support increasing housing supply and affordability. Read more about their efforts and the legislation introduced here.

Rural Development

The creation of the state Office of Rural Development (ORD) is still in question after being removed from some versions of the state budget during negotiations. There is hesitance to create and fund the ORD without a clear vision for the work. There is, however, movement in the Senate to introduce a bill to memorialize the ORD, establishing the set of policies that will guide the work of the ORD. There is still hope that the ORD can be implemented as a significant resource to rural communities and a consistent voice in Lansing, raising awareness of how state legislation and policies affect rural areas.

Featured Employer - Bay West

Our Featured Employer this month is Bay College West Campus. Since the early 1970s, Bay College has had a presence in Dickinson County, dedicating itself to offering academically excellent and affordable public education in our region. The college prepares students to be continuous learners who succeed upon transfer, work effectively in the contemporary workplace, and function as productive citizens and leaders in their communities. Check out the full feature here.

IEDC Economic Development Week Celebrated

The Alliance is celebrating National Economic Development Week from May 9-15, 2021, to share economic development contributions and highlight economic development in action in our community. A series of social media posts this week are sharing local economic development projects and progress. Visit the Alliance social accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter to read more.

In its sixth year, National Economic Development Week was created in 2016 by the International Economic Development Council, the largest professional membership organization for economic developers, to recognize the unique role of economic development in creating vibrant communities with strong economies. Learn more at iedconline.org/edw.

Plan to Get ‘MI Vacc to Normal’

The ‘MI Vacc to Normal’ Plan outlines four vaccination-based milestones to get the state back to normal. MI recently achieved a 55% vaccination rate and expects in-person work for all sectors, including offices, to start on May 24.

To view graphic larger, click here.

MDHHS Relaxes Outdoor Mask Requirements

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated its COVID-19 Gatherings and Face Masks epidemic order. Under the new order, effective May 6 through May 31, masks are generally not required outdoors unless a gathering has 100 or more people.