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‘MI Site’ Tour 2025: In early September, the Chamber hosted representatives from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Quest Site Solutions of South Carolina for a MI Site Tour. This visit marked the conclusion of the MI Site program, through which the Chamber worked to position a 40-acre industrial property for enhanced competitiveness in statewide business attraction efforts. The tour included two hours of presentations highlighting Manistee County’s assets and the site’s development potential, followed by a bus tour showcasing the property and key locations throughout the City of Manistee.
MEDA Economic Development Basic Course: Carmen Kott and Andrew Stafford attended the Michigan Economic Development Association’s Economic Development Basic Course, the first step toward earning the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation. The course provided a comprehensive foundation in economic development, covering topics such as business retention and expansion, organizational management, real estate development, and workforce development.
Filer Credit Union's ‘Advocacy Day’: The Chamber was invited to speak at ‘Advocacy Day’ for Filer Credit Union’s Leadership program. This was an opportunity to speak on the importance of Economic Development, what it is, and why it is critical for communities to be intentional about their economic development strategies.
20Fathoms Manistee Entrepreneur Meet-up: In collaboration with 20Fathoms and the Office of Possibilities, the Chamber has been an active participant in a new monthly entrepreneur meet-up. This initiative brings together start-ups and small business owners from across the County to discuss common challenges, share ideas, and explore available resources that can support their success. The meet-up serves as a valuable platform for networking, peer learning, and fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Manistee County.
Housing Action Team (HAT): The Director of Economic Development continued active participation in the monthly Housing Action Team meetings. HAT is committed to implementing real, tangible strategies to address housing challenges in Manistee County. The Chamber’s involvement ensures alignment with broader economic development efforts and community priorities.
Ignite Manistee: The Manistee Area Chamber is working with the Michigan Small Business Development Center and 20Fathoms on Ignite Manistee, a live pitch competition for local small business owners to pitch their ideas for the chance to receive additional funding for their ventures. The public is invited to watch the live pitch competition, which will take place on Thursday, November 20th.
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