Register Now - Koffee Klub, March 7, 2023

This month's topic will be Monroe County Tourism & Bike Trails. The speakers will include Florence Buchanan, Principal of Customer Experience 360 and Tim Lake, CEO Monroe County Business Alliance. This event will be held at First Merchants Bank HQ. Networking beginning at 7:45am with the program beginning promptly at 8:00am - 9:00am.

We look forward to seeing you there!





The MCBA is in the process of transitioning to a new Customer Referral System. This system will enhance the Investor experience.

GrowthZone is a dynamic user-friendly Customer Referral System that will assist us in communicating important information to our investors as well as allowing our investors to manage their own account through the Info Hub,

The Info Hub will allow Investors to:

  • Update account information
  • Manage payment preferences
  • Register for events
  • Communicate with other members through the online Forum
  • Access the Investor Directory
  • Post internal job openings

An email will be coming out this week with instructions for setting up your Info Hub. This will require a new login and password. Take this opportunity to move around the Info Hub and get acquainted with the new look.

As always, your Alliance Team will be available to answer any questions you may have.

We look forward to hearing your feedback!
9 Washington Group Benefits from Local Businesses Support
The strength of Monroe County's economy lies in its geography and infrastructure; strengths that are attractive to business and industry. In order to capitalize on a strategy of future economic development along the I-75 corridor, relationships are key to creating a synergy that benefits where we live, work, and play. Among those partners are The Community Foundation of Monroe County, Monroe County Business Alliance, and the Downtown Development Association which came together to become known as the 9 Washington Group. Together these groups have worked to identify industries Monroe County should attract to the corridor, action steps that will entice companies to relocate along I-75, and specific development areas along the corridor to improve quality of life. In 2021, First Merchants Bank asked the then Monroe County Business Development Corporation (now Monroe County Business Alliance) to be the master lessor on a property they owned at 9 Washington St., allowing these organizations to be housed in the same building. Since then, Court Appointed Child Advocacy (CASA), The Monroe YMCA, and Child Care Network have joined the 9 Washington Group to help strengthen this commitment.
With furnishings donated from La-Z-Boy and MTS Seating, and artwork provided by Betzi Lievens and students of Meadow Montessori School we have made 9 Washington St. our home, enjoying much cost sharing of rent, utilities, conference rooms, housekeeping, and garbage removal. More recently, the 9 Washington Group received a grant from the DTE Foundation to complete updates to our facility, including additional building security. With the help of these businesses, we continue to work closely, collaborating and streamlining our collective programs to help us all better serve the Monroe County community.

Pictured above: Top row from the left - Tim Lake, Monroe County Business Development; Susan Vanisacker, La-Z-Boy; Molly Lumpert-Coy, DTE Energy; Kathleen Russeau, Community Foundation of Monroe County. Bottom row from the left - Betzi Lievens, Artist & Painter; Julie Everly, City of Monroe; Heather Schwalm, First Merchants Bank.
IIIs Your Business in Need of Employees?
Coming soon!
Investors will have the ability to post job openings through their Info Hub (investor portal). Postings will be visible to all Investors as well as posted in the
Cornerstone monthly Newsletter!
MCBA Lunch & Learn February 15, 2023
Forest View Lanes Temperance, MI

Kicking off the first of 4 Lunch & Learn events that will be offered through the MCBA was a passionate student panel from Bedford and Monroe High Schools. CTE Directors, Ms. Lancina (Bedford), Ms. Morelli (Monroe) and Mr. Nasarzewski (Airport) lead a dynamic presentation that included the student panel as they shared their thoughts on the CTE program.

Pictured above from left to right: CTE Director MHS, Leah Morelli, Cameron Jenkins, Alexis Schade, Adam Nabozny, Reid Eichenberg, Will Salzman Thorn, CTE Director BHS, Jackie Lancina, not pictured John Nasarzewski.

Event sponsors: Forest View Lanes, Consumers Energy and MCISD.
MDOT is looking for your input on design options for a future I-75 project in #Monroe. Click on "video" above to watch the project video.
Take the survey at https://tinyurl.com/568esxd6
Welcome New Investors!
February Investor Renewals
Thank you to the following businesses that continue to support the
Monroe County Business Alliance

  • Alzheimer's Association- Michigan Chapter
  • City of Monroe
  • Community Foundation of Monroe County
  • County of Monroe
  • Davey Tree Expert Company
  • Emerge Health and Wellness / Monroe Medical Associates
  • Gannett - Monroe News
  • GMMP
  • Industrial Inspection Company
  • Knabusch Trust Fund #2
  • Mason Consolidated Schools
  • Mindful Massage & Natural Health
  • Monroe Plumbing & Heating
  • Newport Internal Medicine
  • Ohioans Home Healthcare
  • Public House Food & Drink
  • Real Estate One - The Grostick Team
Going PRO
AWARDS ANNOUNCED

On January 31, the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity announced the first round of recipients for the Going Pro Talent Fund (GPTF). The fund provides grant dollars to reimburse training costs for businesses across the state that go to support employee development and economic sustainability.   
 
For Cycle 1, 13 Monroe County employers were successfully awarded funding, totaling,
$576, 631. Those organizations are as follows: 

  • 360 Digilab  
  • Carleton Controls 
  • Fluid Equipment Development Company (FEDCO) 
  • Sunrise Windows  
  • Premier Industries 
  • Monroe Environmental Corp 
  • Echo Engineering 
  • VenTower 
  • Advanced Heat Treat 
  • Fischer Tool & Die 
  • Backyard Products 
  • MNX Solutions  
  • Kohler Architecture 

The MCBA was proud to work alongside staff of the SEMCA/Michigan Works! Monroe American Job Center; meeting with employers and working toward application submittal. We look forward to working with any interested companies to submit application for Cycle 2 which will kick off in May of this year.  
 
Monroe County Business Alliance (MCBA) Offers

Certificate of Origin

Many exporters are unaware of one of the most useful benefits Chamber Services provides to exporters: export documents.

A certificate of origin certifies the country the goods originate, and it may be required by the government of the country where your goods are being imported. It is also frequently used to determine how much duty the importer will pay to bring in your goods. 
Most countries except a generic certificate of origin form that includes information about the exporter and importer, the description and harmonized tariff code of the goods, and the country of origin. 
Importers depend heavily upon assistance and cooperation from there U.S. Suppliers in producing accurate and well documented declarations of origin. These certificates are usually prepared by the exporter and stamped by your local Chamber Services. Chambers Services will authorize certificates of origin documents used in global trade. 

Working with your Local Chamber Services 

Each country has their own set of Chamber of Commerce that will specialize in certificate of origin documents. For example, if you've shipped products from the USA to Canada and you can contact any local or state American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and submit your NAFTA certificate (now renegotiated as the USMCA) or declaration of origin template. MCBA Chamber Services manually signs and stamps original documents. There is typically a fee charged for stamping certificates of origin, however, for our MCBA investors this fee may be reduced or even included in your investor package. 






GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE MCBA

  • Collaboration
  • Partnerships
  • Investor Perks
  • Marketing Outlets
  • Sponsorships
  • New Business Opportunities
  • Business Credibility
  • Community Involvement
  • Investor Business Directories
  • Meeting Facilities
  • Jobs
  • Education

For more information on business opportunities check out the Investment package






The Monroe Family YMCA







The Monroe Family YMCA celebrated the Grand Opening of their Dundee location with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, February 6, 2023. Joining the staff in celebration; YMCA Board members, Village Leaders, Monroe County Business Alliance, members and guest.
Join a Networking Referral Group
The Cornerstone Connections Group, (formerly Chamber Connections) provides a unique and valuable opportunity to engage new business clientele, discover reliable vendors, and build a team of energetic and passionate allies in the business community.

Chamber Connections Group meet 2 times per month, have 1 member per industry in each group, and provide the opportunity to pass referrals, share information about your services, and utilize fellow group members to generate new customers while also helping your fellow entrepreneurs to grow their business!

The Connections group is a no-cost benefit to MCBA Investors


For more information contact, Chip Williams - 517-740-1134 / Chip122772@gmail.com
Ford Packaging and Distribution Center
In 2017 the Monroe County Link Plan identified eight Priority Development Areas (PDA’s). Since that time three of the PDA’s have been sold and a projected 2.75 million square feet of industrial space either has been or is expected to be constructed.

The latest, is now under construction on LaPlaisance Road in Monroe Township. If you have not driven by lately, we encourage you to do so, as the steel on this massive building is now being erected as you can see in the photo that was provided by the contractor.
This facility represents Ford Motor Company’s second new facility in Monroe County which will support Ford’s electric vehicle production and is expected to provide 650 new jobs.
For more information, contact your
Monroe County Business Alliance Team

Miklyn Halcomb
mhalcomb@mcbusinessalliance.org
LuAnn Hogberg
lhogberg@mcbusinessalliance.org
Tim Lake
tlake@mcbusinessalliance.org
Diana Lingle
dlingle@mcbusinessalliance.org



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