Choose The North: Johnathan Rand Interview

Choose the North continues to promote Northern Lower Michigan as the premier place for young adults to live, work, and thrive. Recently, Choose the North interviewed Johnathan Rand, author of popular series “Michigan Chillers”.

Check out the interview to learn more about why Johnathan continues to choose the north!

Watch The Interview

Most Valuable Pacesetters Award

Buck Love, who recently retired from NLEA received the Pacesetter Award for his work promoting Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). Buck coordinated the adoption of the PACE program in Emmet (2018), Cheboygan (2022), and Charlevoix (2023) Counties.

PACE is a financing tool that allows a commercial property owners to voluntarily enter into a special

assessment agreement with a local unit of government, which can be repaid over a period of up to 25 years. It enables cash flow positive investments in comprehensive energy efficiency, water efficiency, and renewable energy projects. By financing such projects through PACE, businesses can eliminate the need for upfront capital and benefit from PACE's long-term, fixed-rate financing structure. This ensures the savings from the project are greater than the annual PACE loan repayment – generating immediate positive cash flow.

Congratulations, Buck!

Good For Michigan Partnership

Pure Michigan Business Connect and People First Economy have partnered to promote and advance sustainability throughout Michigan's business community.

Michigan businesses of all sizes and from any industry are encouraged to participate in this partnership by entering the Good For Michigan Program. This complimentary program helps businesses identify, measure, and guide the implementation of practices that create positive social and environmental impacts, using online tools to benchmark and set goals towards a regenerative and financially stable future.

Businesses that are interested in learning more about the Good For Michigan program are encouraged to review a recorded webinar below.

View Webinar

Roadmap to Rural Prosperity

The Office of Rural Prosperity recently published the Roadmap to Rural Prosperity, Michigan’s first-ever report focused on rural issues.

This beautifully designed roadmap gives a voice to rural communities, fosters a statewide understanding of rural needs and priorities and helps guide local, regional and state leaders in advancing collaborative and collective action to achieve prosperity across rural Michigan.

Click the button below to take a look!

Explore the Roadmap Here

A statewide, Rural Prosperity Conference will be hosted at Treetops Resort on Monday, May 20, 2024.

Consumer Energy Foundation's

Pitch Competition

The Consumers Energy Foundation is offering grant opportunities to help put your community on the map. They are seeking innovative ideas that will energize your town and create momentum that builds a stronger sense of community. If you are selected, you will be invited to present to a panel of judges during the Small Town & Rural Development Conference on April 29, 2024.

Click here for more information on who is eligible and for a list of sample topics. Are you interested in submitting an idea? Click the button below to complete your pitch!

Submit Your Pitch