Development Spotlight: East Jordan | | |
Join us for this half-day event designed to bring together developers, community leaders, and industry experts who are shaping the future of northern Michigan.
Development Spotlight will showcase upcoming housing, mixed-use, and industrial developments and investment opportunities in and around East Jordan.
Real estate developers, construction firms, and related industry professionals will gain local insights, meet key local partners, visit development sites, and experience all this northern Michigan lakefront community has to offer.
Thank you to our committed sponsors: Networks Northwest, the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity, and Consumers Energy.
| | Regional Business Outlook | | |
The Regional Business Outlook, co-hosted by the NLEA and Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, will feature a panel discussion with business leaders representing diverse northern Michigan industries to share their outlook on both opportunities and challenges in the year ahead. Attendees will also be the first to learn the current regional business climate, labor force, and development news through a presentation of the fall edition of the NLEA’s Economic Pulse Report. Following the panel discussion, stick around for hors d'oeuvres and networking with leaders from across the region.
Read the Spring 2025 Economic Pulse Report here!
Thank you to our committed sponsor: Networks Northwest.
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Talent Retention & Attraction
NLEA and Local Business Leaders Offer Solutions for Staffing Shortages
Community and business leaders gathered in East Jordan for Catalyst Conversations - Staffing Up: Innovative Workforce Strategies to discuss solutions and resources to the growing challenges of staffing shortages in the region. The event featured a panel of business leaders and resource providers from across Michigan who have successfully built innovative talent pipelines in their organizations; Abe Manthei of The Manthei Group, Ryan Schultz of Mr. Chain, Rena Dam of Global Detroit, and Dustin Stabile of Mackinaw Trail Winery. All four shared their experiences tackling workforce challenges, ranging from a local in-recovery program to hiring visa workers to fill a variety of positions across industries. Also on the panel was Sam Bailey, NLEA, who discussed the demographic and labor force trends shaping our region.
Following the panel discussion, key regional employers gathered for the Regional Employer Talent Roundtable to discuss the most critical opportunities for retaining and attracting a more robust workforce. The NLEA will be releasing a regional talent report that captures key labor market trends and projections along with successful retention and attraction strategies.
Thank you to our generous event sponsors: Networks Northwest and ITC Holdings Corp.
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Business Growth
NLEA Presents at Michigan Defense and Aerospace Summit
Dave Kronberg, Director of Business Growth, participated in the inaugural Michigan Defense and Aerospace Summit presented by the Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation. On the Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula manufacturing discussion panel, Dave joined economic developers who spoke about how rural communities are stepping up to meet the needs of local manufacturers and the growing opportunities for defense and aerospace work.
With insight from manufacturers across the NLEA region working in this space, Dave shared Northern Michigan's readiness, capacity, and appetite for expansion in this sector.
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| We Can Help You Fund Your Next Project! | | |
Grants and Incentives Assistance
The NLEA has a team of economic and community development professionals with experience in grant writing services and incentive assistance to support your next development project. Contact Jessica Lovay to see how we can help you!
Low-Interest Business Loan Assistance
We can help you explore your financing options through our partnerships with Great Lakes Energy (GLE) and Venture North. Reach out to Dave Kronberg to learn more about these programs and how you may qualify.
Great Lakes Energy Loan Programs
- 0% GLE USDA Loan (up to $1M)
- GLE Revolving Loan Fund (up to $250,000)
Venture North Loan Programs
- Express Loan ($5 - $25,000)
- New Business Micro Loan (up to $50,000)
- Existing Small Business Loan (up to $350,000)
| | IndigiPitch Business Pitch Competition Coming to Petoskey! | | |
20Fathoms is hosting a pitch competition for Native American entrepreneurs to showcase their work, meet supportive individuals, and compete for $7,500 in cash prizes. IndigiPitch is an energizing pitch competition that will showcase Michigan’s vibrant Native American entrepreneurship and startup community. This event is open to the public but will exclusively feature Native American entrepreneurs as pitch presenters and expo vendors.
This event is on the evening of Friday, December 5th, at Odawa Casino in Petoskey. Applications are now open. Entrepreneurs are invited to apply by Oct. 13th to pitch and/or to secure a vendor booth.
| | Startup Coaching Available in the NLEA Region | | NLEA's Small Business Support Hub partner, 20Fathoms, is offering free startup coaching in Elk Rapids and Petoskey. Entrepreneurs are invited to stop in and connect with a startup coach who can provide help with troubleshooting, opportunity and gap analysis, resources, connections, and getting clear about strategic priorities. Specialty coaching about access to capital and for Indigenous entrepreneurs is also available by appointment. Coaching is free! View the calendar for availability. | | Learn More About NLEA Services | | The NLEA is a nonprofit economic development organization serving Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet Counties and has been helping businesses and communities succeed and grow since 1984. Whether you are a community looking for assistance with property redevelopment and grant management or a business looking for assistance to secure funding for new equipment or expansion, the NLEA is here to help you. Learn more about these and additional services below. | | |
Meet Dave!
As your local resource, we're here to help your business succeed and grow -- with support for funding, site selection, local incentives, development, and data to back your project. Learn more below.
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Meet Jessica!
We support communities in retaining and attracting year-round, family sustaining jobs through economic development training, local incentives, and infrastructure funding. Learn more below.
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