NLEA Annual Report Executive Summary
2007 continued to be an exciting year for the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance and our service area in Northern Michigan. We continue to work cooperatively and collaboratively with many groups, organizations, agencies and governments at all levels. It is this spirit of teamwork and cooperation that is the trademark of the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance and a style of leadership that we feel is critical for the success in our region.
Highlights of NLEA’s efforts in 2007:
· Assisted 15 Local Units of Government on a variety of projects
· $3.7 million in local investment leveraged $5 million in CDBG grants as well as nearly another $2.1 million from USDA, EDA and MDEQ
· Over $8.3 million in private investment was generated in the region
· Assisted 4 companies receive over $300,000 in tax abatements. This new investment will generate an additional $331,000 in local taxes and create 36 new jobs.
· Over $260,000 of EPA Brownfield grant funds are currently invested in 15 sites, with estimated private investment of $66 million and when complete are projected to create over 500 jobs.
· Creation of an entirely new NLEA Entrepreneurial Development Division
The NLEA worked directly with local units of government on infrastructure projects, which facilitated local company growth and expansion and assisted many local companies on a wide range of issues that helped retain existing jobs and create new jobs in a tough economy.
We continued to pro-actively approach economic development as a “team sport” and worked hard to strengthen partner relationships, network public and private sectors, and work collaboratively to address economic development challenges and opportunities in our area. Some examples of this include establishing an 18 countycollaboarative manufacturing company retention effort. This will enable the sharing of information which will assist our local companies identify others in our area that are potential customers and or suppliers.
The Creating Entreprenurial Communities (CEC) program continues to grow with eight communities involved in some aspect of the program. This effort led to the creation of the new NLEA Entrepreneurial Development Division. This division will focus resources to assist entrepreneurs at all levels get to the next leg of their journey. Entrepreneurs are an important part of our economy and we feel that by helping them grow, our region will see job growth, economic diversity and more deep seeded wealth in the community.
We have expanded our business counseling efforts and this past year took the show on the road and conducted on-site counseling in Elk Rapids, East Jordan, BoyneCity and Petoskey. This has been so successful we are expanding the program to include Cheboygan, Indian River and Charlevoix. Partnering with local chambers of commerce and public libraries we will expand the Business Resource Centers to six. This will bring even more resources right to the local communities to better serve local business and entrepreneurs.
Our Brownfield Assessment program has been very successful. CheboyganCounty continues to implement their two assessment grants and after a successful two year program, Emmet/Charlevoix/Antrim counties have applied for the next round. We will find out in May if we are successful.
Finally, we would be remiss if we did not point out the wonderful working relationship we have with all the various elected leaders, organizations, agencies and private sector companies at the local, state and federal level. We all truly understand that by working together, pooling our resources, knowledge and expertise, we all will be successful, our region will be stronger and everyone’s quality of life improved.
This is not just a cliché, but an integral part of how we all do business here. That’s what will continue to make our area strong, vibrant and growing.
Andy Hayes, President
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