Catch up on the region's latest economic news.
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NLEA appoints two new Board Members |
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Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) is pleased to announce two recently appointed members to the Board of Directors. Juliette King McAvoy from King Orchards and David Roland Finley, PhD from North Central Michigan College. |
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Juliette King McAvoy is the VP of Marketing & Sales for King Orchards, a family owned and operated farm and food business in Northwest Michigan. King Orchards farms over 400 acres of fruit and vegetables, has two retail farm markets with “U-Pick” throughout the seasons, a seasonal bakery, and a fruit manufacturing business that markets value-added products to the food industry and consumers around the world
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Dr. David Roland Finley is president of North Central Michigan College (NCMC) in Petoskey, Michigan. In this role, he leads the dynamic institution of 2,000 degree-seeking and 1,500 continuing education students in achieving its mission of providing ‘ an exceptional, accessible, and relevant education of, and for, the community.’ |
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Competition to "Put Your Town on the Map!" |
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strong communities. Communities with a population of up to 10,000 have through Feb. 24 to submit proposals. Up to 10 finalists will compete for the funds at the Small Town and Rural Development Conference, held virtually April 13 and 14.
Consumers Energy in partnership with the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) will select 10 communities to make their pitch at the Rural Partners of Michigan conference. The top three winners will receive grants worth $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Proposals are due February 24.
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Newly-formed collaboration to empower economic growth |
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The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance is participating in the newly-formed Northern Michigan Native Commerce Team (NMNCT). As a collaborator and resource provider for the region’s businesses and communities, NLEA’s relationships and knowledge of the business environment as well as grants and infrastructure, provide the perfect connections to partner with Arrowhead Incubator and the other organizations involved.
To ensure the ongoing health and sustainability of social and economic development strategies within the region, the NMNCT’s Objectives are:
- Bridging Native and Non-Native communication gap for communicating emerging challenges and opportunities in social and economic development
- Sharing relevant, publicly accessible data to better understand the needs of the region
- Collaborate for ongoing regional resilience.
Arrowhead Incubator has announced their Basic Business Start-Up Program's application is now live. This is an intensive eight-week course open to both Native and Non-Native entrepreneurs to support the creation of new non-profit and business ventures in our region.
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First-of-it-kind program to reduce carbon footprint |
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As part of DTE Energy’s 2050 net zero commitment, DTE Gas announced that it will offer customers a new way to reduce their carbon footprint. The program, called CleanVision Natural Gas Balance is the first in the nation to include both carbon offsets and renewable natural gas. The carbon offset program is focused on protecting Michigan forests that naturally absorb greenhouse gases. Renewable natural gas will be sourced by transforming landfill emissions and wastewater treatment plant by-products into usable gas. Natural Gas Balance offers customers a way to affordably offset 25% to 100% of greenhouse gas emissions from an average home’s natural gas use.
DTE Gas’ ambitious 2050 net zero plan includes suppliers and customers, as well as its own gas operations. This clean energy commitment, combined with customer participation in sustainability programs like Natural Gas Balance and energy efficiency, could reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 6 million metric tons by 2050 — the equivalent of offsetting natural gas emissions of 1 million homes or taking 1.3 million cars off the road annually.
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Let's make housing attainable for all |
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By Yarrow Brown, local columnist published in Traverse City Record Eagle Jan. 3, 2021
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Affordability is something we all should prioritize when it comes to housing. Don’t we all strive to live affordably so we can enjoy family and leisure time, travel and contribute to our local economy?
So why does the term often generate a negative response? There are many words used to describe the need for housing in our region. There is attainable housing. And the new term Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing, or NOAH. Or is it just housing in general? Regardless of terminology, we live in a region where affordable housing or rent is out of reach for much of our workforce.
The gaps in our region’s housing market were laid out in a 2019 Target Market Analysis (TMA) generated through a partnership between Networks Northwest and Housing North. It identified a demand for more than 15,000 homes in our 10-county region. Of these 15,000 homes, most of the need was for rental units and for households making less than $40,000 a year, but also included homes for all income levels and price ranges.
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Cheboygan County grant opportunities open |
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If you aren’t a subscriber to this CCCF newsletter you may be missing opportunities to benefit from a tax deductible donation and help you local community with an array of support for local businesses and community projects.
“The Cheboygan County Community Foundation was founded in 2011 through the efforts of the Cheboygan Economic Development Group. We are a 501(c)(3) non profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. Donations go directly to projects and organizations identified by the foundation as having potential to improve quality of life for the residents and visitors of Cheboygan County.”
The foundation provides grants, scholarships, and other means of financial support for individuals, companies, organizations, and projects which support our mission and purpose. Applications for grants can found at their website. See the deadline schedule below. Applications for funds must relate to our mission which is to support projects which create jobs, improve local vocational educational opportunities, increase tourism visits, and expand retail and commercial offerings.
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Application Deadline:
May 1, 2021
August 1, 2021
November 1, 2021
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For Board Meeting In:
June
September
December
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MDARD awards rural grants |
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The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has awarded 20 Rural Development Fund Grants designed to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities.
“Rural Michigan isn’t some strange, faraway, uninhabited land,” said MDARD Director Gary McDowell. “Most of the people in this great state are either from or currently live in rural areas, so these grants have a real impact on the lives of people we know and in communities not far from our own. Rural Michigan has unlimited potential, but it needs opportunity. The Rural Development Fund grants help provide those opportunities.”
Of the 20 projects totaling $1,700,000 (leveraging a match of more than $6.7 million) three projects totaling $186,700 were in the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance service area:
- Great Lakes Tissue Company – $100,000 (Cheboygan) – Expansion of new processing equipment to add value to the plastic byproduct of recycled poly-coated paper feedstock of cartons, paper cups, food trays, and post-industrial paper used in the 100% recycle context tissue manufacturing.
- Tuscarora Township – $54,900 (Indian River) – Installation of additional public boat dockage at Marina Park.
- Beaver Island Historical Society – $31,800 (Beaver Island) – Implement a tourism campaign, upgrades at Heritage Park and Blue Buffalo Camp Trail, development of a mobile app for tourists.
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Join the Taskforce for broadband and technology throughout Michigan |
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You are cordially invited to attend the Connecting Michigan Taskforce Virtual Listening Tour. Broadband is a critical topic for improving the quality of life for all Michiganders. Join the Connecting Michigan Taskforce for a virtual listening and learning tour to discuss broadband and technology in the state. Local and regional stakeholders are invited to participate in order to learn more about the taskforce, hear about federal and state broadband efforts, and provide your insights and feedback to the taskforce on broadband issues and solutions in your community.
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Videos you will want to share |
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We like to motivate and educate with these videos, so good you'll pass them on! If you have one or see something inspirational, send it our way. We love sharing! |
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3 ways to avoid remote work burnout |
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See how NCMC is changing for the future. |
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COVID-19 Helpful Resources |
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We encourage you to contact and visit the websites of your local Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Development Authorities (DDAs), and Main Street organizations for the most updated information pertaining to your community.
Click here for a short list of resources and information for businesses and communities during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. NLEA will continue to update this information as more resources become available. If you have questions please call our office at 231-582-6482 or email us at [email protected] and we will direct you promptly.
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Find out what our Core Partners are up to! |
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