Burrell Business Brief

An Economic News Update From The Right Place

​By Julie Burrell, Business Development Manager, Newaygo County

Economic development is sometimes hard to describe, but in a nutshell… We thrive on relationships, we connect businesses to resources, we focus on collaboration, and we are here to ensure our local employers succeed. This column is designed to share the timely information our community needs to continue being a place where people and businesses can prosper. 

People
We are gearing up for our 3rd Grow North event of 2021, designed to help connect & enhance knowledge of local entrepreneurs. The August 18 session is focusing on those businesses interested in expanding into brick & mortar spaces. We are partnering up with the Muskegon Innovation Hub, River Country Chamber of Commerce, SBDC and Northern Initiatives for this session. Register to attend here:  https://fb.me/e/1kBWZPiXX   

Unemployment rates in Newaygo County, currently at 5.6%, continue to lag slightly behind the State of Michigan, at 5.5%. However, our rates are much better than the national average of 6.1%. Of recent businesses I’ve met with this summer, 67% are reporting difficulty recruiting. September promises changes to unemployment assistance levels, with many federal pandemic related unemployment programs scheduled to end on Sept 4th. 

After 2020 eliminated many internship opportunities across the country, 2021 still proved to be an uncertain year. In a recent article from our colleagues at Hello West Michigan (HWM), they shared that now is the time to begin planning for 2022 opportunities to engage young talent. Read the article here. Additionally, local employers are invited to join any of HWM’s Employer Internship Trainings – register here.

Michigan Works! West Central is available to assist any Newaygo County employer. From help crafting job descriptions to hosting job fairs in-person again, they are here to serve as a valuable resource for our business community! Check out their new website for location and contact information.  

Created to help those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, MiLEAP is a program designed to develop meaningful opportunities for people to connect to the labor market. MiLEAP participants will receive individualized competency-based assessments, learning plans, skills assessments and more. Michigan Works! West Central is leading this effort in our region. Find out more information here.

Now is the time to get creative when seeking new employees. Consider including a focus on quality of life in your job postings. Information specific to Newaygo County can be found here, and check out this great video put together by the team at The Right Place, highlighting what it’s like to live and work in beautiful West Michigan.

It is more important than ever to increase focus on retaining your existing team members. Providing an opportunity for enhanced education is one way to show appreciation, and there are a few options to do so without footing the entire bill. Coming this fall, the Going Pro Talent Fund is available for training programs and apprenticeships. The Fremont Area Community Foundation’s Adult Scholarships program, which is open for applications year-round for Newaygo County residents, are available for undergrad study, certifications, credentials, and apprenticeship programs. Additionally, the Michigan Reconnect program pays a portion of the cost of tuition for eligible adults in Newaygo County pursuing an associate degree or skills certificate. 

MSHDA and DTE Energy have partnered together to assist those who may be behind in energy bills or rent. Register here.

Place
MSU Extension is hosting the Octoberfest Lunch & Learn Series, focusing on connecting entrepreneurial communities. Learn about successes and challenges in entrepreneurial Resilience, Recovery and Reconnection. Register here. 

The Newaygo County Tourism Council is in the middle of their Summer campaign with the  best ways to do Summer in Newaygo County. Interested in getting in front of the 48,000 plus website visitors? Contact them to get your business a front-row seat. 

Prosperity
MIOSHA encourages employers to follow recently updated CDC guidelines. Additional information available here.

The Right Place invites you to join us for the Manufacturing Leadership Summit on September 23. The Manufacturing Leadership Summit will bring together the region’s manufacturing community for a day of exploring the latest industry advancements and future trends. Register here.

Over the past several years, The Right Place has partnered with NC RESA, local districts & manufacturers to host Discover Manufacturing Tours. If your school or organization is interested in participating this year, please contact me today!

Outdoor recreation is trending upward, and Michigan is perfectly poised to capitalize on this growth potential! The Right Place, Pure Michigan Business Connect and the Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry are hosting an educational webinar on Sept 15th. Join us at noon for a quick, informational session highlighting various outdoor recreation resource partners, followed by a panel of successful West Michigan outdoor recreation businesses. Register here by September 13.

The FCC established the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program earlier this year, Broadband assistance for low-income residents which can offer a one-time discount of up to $100 on a laptop, desktop or tablet and up to $50 per month on broadband services. More info can be found here.
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Consumers Energy has launched the Power MI Fleet program, helping commercial customers transition to electric fleet vehicles. For more information, visit the Power MI Fleet website. 

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