The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance in partnership with Networks Northwest invites all DDA members throughout the Northwest Region to join together in a discussion of topics important to downtown success. Following are details for the upcoming meeting.

Please RSVP to jess@northernlakes.net  or call 231-582-6482 to reserve your spot as space is limited!

Agenda:

Northwest Michigan Local Government Summit

An educational and peer-to-peer networking opportunity for local government staff and officials.

Session topics include:

• Legislative update from the Governor’s Office

• Intergovernmental Agreements 

• Broadband Connectivity 

• Communications and Marketing Plans

• Financial Modeling & Other Financial Management Techniques 

• Creating Housing Options

     And more!

MI Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs announces FY18 grant workshops

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) announced its grant program workshop schedule for Fiscal Year 2018 programs.

“As the arts and cultural field continues its unprecedented growth in Michigan, the grant programs we are offering to the field are becoming more competitive every year,” said MCACA Executive Director John Bracey. “These workshops offer organizations an opportunity to learn how to be successful at a grant review.”

MCACA will be conducting free informational workshops on grant guidelines and the application process for potential applicants throughout the state in March and April in anticipation of the June 1, 2017 deadline. Workshop attendance is not required for grant applicants; Pre-registration or RSVPs are not required.

    April 10, 2017 – 9 a.m.
    Old Town Playhouse
    148 E. Eighth St.
    Traverse City, Michigan

Future Cities:                                                             

Planning for Tomorrow’s Mobility

Regional Workshop – Potential Impacts on Local Communities

April 5 – Ypsilanti | April 11 – Gaylord | April 12 – Grand Rapids |April 18 – Marquette

Advanced vehicle technologies and new mobility services will have profound impacts on transportation systems and beyond. Communities across Michigan are seeking resources and information regarding the future of transportation.

To help Michigan communities prepare for tomorrow’s mobility, the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is conducting a series of regional workshops, with support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

In April, CAR will conduct workshops in four locations across Michigan to share its research on the potential implications, challenges, and benefits of connected and automated vehicle technologies and new mobility services (e.g., carsharing, ridehailing, bikesharing, etc.) for local communities and organizations, and to obtain feedback from workshop participants.

The agenda includes:

New mobility services

• Presentation of potential impacts of new mobility services on road infrastructure, travel demand, and other transportation modes
• Discussion

Connected vehicle technology

• Presentation of potential impacts of connected vehicle technology on road infrastructure, traffic congestion, safety, and transportation systems
• Discussion

Automated vehicle technology

• Presentation of potential impacts of connected vehicle technology on road infrastructure, built environment, and travel behavior
• Discussion

The workshops are organized in four locations, and all four will follow the same format. Dates and locations are:

• Wednesday, April 5, 2017, Ypsilanti: SPARK East (215 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197), 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
• Tuesday, April 11, 2017, Gaylord: Gaylord City Hall (305 E Main St, Gaylord, MI 49735), 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
• Wednesday, April 12, 2017, Grand Rapids: Right Place (125 Ottawa Avenue NW, Suite 450, Grand Rapids, MI 49503), 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
• Tuesday, April 18, 2017, Marquette: Marquette DDA (203 S Front St #1-B, Marquette, MI 49855), 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

Cost: Free. Please register in advance, because each workshop is limited to 35 people. Register to the meeting closest to you by using this link: https://goo.gl/forms/W1nYppw2tTKlXOR82

Further information (parking, access, etc.) will be provided a week before each meeting.

A second series of workshops will be organized in June to help formulate recommendations and identify next steps that communities need to take.

If you have any questions before the workshops, please contact Adela Spulber, at aspulber@cargroup.org, (734) 929-0488.

Understanding SBA’s Small Business Programs – Chew On This Web Seminar

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

This 1 hr webinar will provide an overview of the SBA’s Small Business Programs—Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), and HUBZone Small Business (HUBZone). This webinar will describe the programs, why you may want, or not want to participate in a program, how to participate, and how to take advantage of your small business status. Have lunch with the PTAC from the comfort of your own office and take advantage of this valuable training opportunity at no cost! Once you are registered, you will receive a confirmation email 24 hrs before the webinar with instructions for how to join the webinar. If you do not receive an email by April 18, please contact Deb Donovan at deb.donovan@networksnorthwest.org or call 231-929-5076.

View info flier.

Register here.

The Michigan Tourism Strategic Plan’s Product Development Committee is focusing efforts on one of its four primary objectives, to increase access to capital for travel-related businesses. They are creating Project Tourism for April 19, 2017 where hospitality based businesses will compete at a live event for cash prizes for a special project.

Six hospitality-based companies will be selected as finalists to compete for cash prizes- First place prize is $7,000, second place is $2,000 and third place is $1,000. Judges will consist of traditional and non-traditional lenders and industry leaders. Finalists will each have five minutes to present their special project and compete for 1st, 2nd or 3rd place cash prizes to help towards that project. Finalists will be judge by a panel for 80% of the vote, 20% will come the attendees of the event.

Want to apply?

What new project could you tackle with $7,000 to leverage funding? Dream big about what you could do with $7,000. The pitch should describe a tourism related capital project. How much total capital is needed? How will these funds enhance your business and therefore benefit our tourism industry? How this could be a catalyst to something bigger? Please send your pitch with no more than 250 words about how this could change your business, your community or your industry. Explain your plan or project with as much detail as you can. Ideal candidates would use the funds as leverage for loans with traditional and nontraditional funders. Deadline to apply- March 15, 2017. Click here to apply: https://goo.gl/forms/Y6PGjHIfGY1f9Ms23

Individuals in the beginning stages of starting a business, in need of accessing capital, or simply considering self-employment, will have the opportunity to attend a Starting a Business workshop Wednesday, April 26 in Petoskey. The workshop is being offered by the Northwest Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in partnership with North Central Michigan College. It will be held from 12 to 2:30 p.m. in Room 536 of the Student and Community Resource Center, 1515 Howard Street. The workshop will be facilitated by SBDC Small Business Consultant Kathleen Bagley. There is no charge, but pre-registration is required by contacting the SBDC at 231-922-3780 or you can register online.

rrc-best-practice-training-series-spring_2017