Vol. 9, October 2009 "On-line" Newsletter
Features:
1. Cheboygan's Pedestrian Footbridge Project Almost Complete
2. $12 Million Dollar Ground Breaking
3. Collaboration Benefits Entire Community
4. Great Things are Happening in Michigan
5. Rural Football Feature Film - Location Needed
6. Michigan's Future: Energy, Economy & Environment
7. Entrepreneurship, Graphic Arts and New Media Classes at NCMC
8. Great Workshops, Seminars & Conferences
1. Cheboygan’s Pedestrian Footbridge Project Almost Complete
October 8th was an exciting day in Cheboygan. The pedestrian footbridge was picked up off the ground by a large crane and placed in its new home, spanning the Cheboygan River (see photo). This project is being funded through a combination of grant funds from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from the City’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA). NLEA assisted the City in applying for the MSHDA funds and is helping them with grant administration. This project is expected to be substantially completed by early November.
2. $12 Million Dollar Ground Breaking
Catt Development broke ground on their $12 million dollar One Water Street development in Boyne City last month. The NLEA helped facilitate brownfield cleanup financing with the city, the city DDA, the Charlevoix County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the county, the MDEQ and the MEDC. Here hazardous substances are being remediated on the former railroad roundhouse site. The retail phase should be open in May 2010. Click here for more information on Catt Development
3. Collaboration Benefits Entire Community
Scott Schiemann, owner of Petoskey Machining & Hydraulic Repair, LLC received assistance from Brian Braddock, Entrepreneurial Division Director for the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA). Through grant money provided by the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation the NLEA is able to work with clients like Schiemann to promote Entrepreneurs in Emmet County. For small businesses the NLEA specializes in start-up counseling, assistance in writing a business plan, facilitating access to capital resources, and connecting entrepreneurs with professional business mentors. Schiemann is one example of how the collaborative effort between the two groups has helped people move forward with their business pursuits. Email info@northernlakes.net to learn how we can assist you!
4. Great Things are Happening in Michigan
Every month we receive good news from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. This multifaceted organization works on everything from company attraction, to community development, to state promotion, and more. On the company front, they're working diligently to enable former manufacturing plants to transform into green manufacturing and renewable energy facilities focused on alternative energy products like wind turbines, solar panels, and advanced batteries. Michigan communities are receiving more than $18.1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding being made available through the MEDC. The funds will support public infrastructure projects in 35 communities statewide including a street improvement project in Boyne City. The MEDC is also working hard to promote the Pure Michigan campaign. You may have seen the new signage, and heard the radio ads and television commercials promoting our great state.
For a monthly update and details of these projects and other great things happening in Michigan please click here.
5. Rural Football Feature Film - Location Needed!
The Michigan Film Office (MFO) is looking for locations to film a rural football feature in our area. If the following description seems to fit your hometown, please log into the MFO website and upload photos.
Small rural farming community with one stop light, a white church steeple, and a pleasant, Midwestern modest appeal. The base population is hard-working, low income manufacturing and farming and while the town is quaint --- it's seen better days. The strains and pressures of an economic downturn show up in the surrounding areas (please include photos of the one street main street and businesses). Small town fire house - can be a volunteer station (please send interiors and exterior photos of the station). Rural football field, must look older, small and rural, no flashy scoreboards or press boxes, bonus if there is a hill that overlooks the field. Rural high school (please include photos of the exterior, and football facilities locker room, field, etc.). Worn down farm/farmhouse, must look weathered and falling apart but operational (2-story farmhouse, live stock, and old farm equipment is a bonus). Soy bean fields, large expansive bean fields, irrigation equipment is a bonus.
Please feel free to call Michael Grabemeyer (1-800-477-3456) if you have any questions. Submit photos at: http://mi.reel-scout.com/loc_add.aspx
6. Michigan's Future: Energy, Economy and Environment
This year's conference will be held at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa on November 13-15. Explore visions of Michigan's sustainable future; current, critical challenges facing Michigan; and strategies for developing a stable, enduring economic and environmental future. Of special interest to NLEA area businesses are workshops on Michigan’s future energy production and on regional and local food systems, two growing sectors of our Northern Michigan economy. To learn more about the conference, or to register, click here.
7. Entrepreneurship, Graphic Arts and New Media Classes at NCMC!
Winter semester advanced registration for courses in North Central Michigan College’s Entrepreneurship Essentials, Graphic Arts and New Media certificates of development will be available in November. Winter semester begins in January, but advanced registration starts soon! For more information or to sign-up, please contact Amber at 231-242-1493, aholt@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov or visit the WOCTEP website.
8. Great Workshops, Seminars & Conferences
Click on each title for complete details.
October 27: Creating a Sense of Place
October 30: Top 10 HR Mistakes
November 2: Site Plan Review
November 4: Marketing on a Budget
November 5: Home Based Alternative Energy Site Plan Review
November 13-15: Michigan's Future: Energy, Economy & Environment
November 18: Effective Market Research
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