Patrick Cudney named District Coordinator for MSUE.

1. MSUE Announces District Coordinator

Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) is pleased to announce that Patrick Cudney was appointed District 3 Coordinator covering Cheboygan, Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim, Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Manistee Counties.  Cudney brings 14 years of experience to this position and will officially begin his district coordinator position on July 1, 2010. 

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Representatives from each company attended the "Michigan Top 50 Companies to Watch" dinner in April.

2. Local Companies Honored at Dinner in Lansing

Kilwin’s Quality Confections of Petoskey, Pine River Inc. of Charlevoix, Classic Instruments of Boyne City and Ryba Marine Construction Company of Cheboygan, were all honored in late April as part of "Michigan’s Top 50 Companies to Watch".  The honor was presented at the April Michigan Celebrates Business banquet in Lansing before an audience of around 800 people.  Governor Jennifer Granholm was the keynote speaker for the event.  Company representatives were on hand to receive the award which is given to Second Stage Michigan companies that are expanding, growing, or creating jobs in the state.  Congratulations goes out to them and to all our local companies who work hard every day for the betterment of our local economy.

Pine River Inc. manufacturers E-log siding.

3. Pine River Inc. Honored

Pine River, Inc. of Charlevoix was also honored at the dinner in Lansing as the "2009 Best Small Business" by the Region 2 MI-SBTDC (Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center).  Owner Mike Way, an NLEA Incubator client, is the genius behind "e-logs", a man-made building product that simulates the look of log siding with increased energy efficiency.  For more information and a look at this beautiful product visit www.e-logsiding.com.

Erin Bemis, President of Charlevoix Chamber selected for leadership training.

4. Local Chamber President Singled Out

Erin Bemis, President of the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce, was selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for a Competitive Workforce to attend the Business LEADs Institute, a three-day seminar in Washington, DC on May 10-12, 2010. 

Selected for her leadership in the community, Bemis is one of 35 business leaders from around the nation to learn how the business community can utilize its assets to drive positive transformation in communities across America in education and workforce training. 

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Sheri Rhoads, Brian Braddock, and Jan Kellogg of NLEA at the Boyne City Area Business Expo last week.

5. Boyne City Area Business Expo a "Hole In One"

NLEA participated in the Boyne Business Expo in late April, along with 80 local businesses and organizations.  Hundreds of people visited the expo and sampled a "taste of Boyne".  The NLEA booth focused on various programs and opportunities offered to business people from the area.  They also held a putting contest that was fun for all!   Over 20 people sank the putt, registering them for a chance to win a basket full of food items from local venders and NLEA clients.  The expo was a tremendous success and the NLEA was happy to be a part of it.

Street in Boyne City will receive a "face-lift" this year.

6. Boyne City Receives Grant from MEDC

Boyne City recently received a $634,350 Community Development Block Grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to reconstruct and improve the street and public infrastructure on N. East Street.  The 0.75-mile improvements include sewer and water, storm sewer, sidewalks and street improvements. In addition, the project will allow greater firefighting reliability, emergency vehicle travel, and pedestrian safety. Construction will begin this summer. The NLEA helped with the environmental review and grant application.

7. Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act

Attention businesses owners: the government is offering two new incentives.  The first is for hiring anyone who has been out of work for at least 60 days.  You become exempt from paying the 6.2 percent Social Security payroll tax on that employee through December, 2010. The government will reimburse the Social Security trust fund for the lost revenue.  The second is for an additional $1,000 credit for each new worker remaining on the job for a full year.Click here for a detailed description of the HIRE act  Click here for the official IRS website that explains how to claim credits

8. New Health Insurance Tax Credit for Employers

The recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act could earn you a new tax credit in 2010 for providing health insurance for your employees.  If your small business or tax-exempt organization pays employee health insurance premiums in 2010, you may be eligible to claim a new credit worth up to 35% of premiums on your 2010 tax return.  Employers with fewer than 25 employees (more if you have part-time employees), and less than $50,000 in average wages, may be eligible.  To find out if you're eligible, visit www.irs.gov or consult your tax professional.

9. Great Workshops, Seminars & Conferences

Click on each title for complete details.

May 20: Farm Market GAAMP Training

May 21: Inventor's Forum

May 21: Social Networking for Business

May 21: Talent Management 3.0

May 24: Exporting 101

May 26: How to Start a New Business

May 26: Survival for the UpNorth Retailer

June 1: PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center) Seminar at NLEA

June 2: How to Start a New Business

June 2: Understanding Your Financial Statements

June 7 - 11: Commuter Cup Challenge

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