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. 
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In this edition you’ll notice a simplified approach.  Our new CEO, Randy Thelen, presented our strategic plan in a new view recently, and I thought it worked perfectly to organize the items I’ll share with N3 readers.  

People
Many companies continue to struggle with finding new talent, but our partners are here to help.  Michigan Works! West Central has hosted several virtual job fairs over the past several months, with the next being a partnership with MDARD to host an Ag/Food Processing specific job fair on March 25.  Registration is available through March 22.  Additionally, MW!WC can assist employers with writing job descriptions and posting open positions through the Pure Michigan Talent Connect database. 
 
Upskilling current staff is easier on your bottom line with The Fremont Area Community Foundation’s Adult Scholarships program, which is open for applications year-round for Newaygo County residents. These scholarships are available for undergrad study, certifications, credentials, and apprenticeship programs. Additionally, the recently announced Michigan Reconnect program pays a portion of the cost of tuition for eligible adults in Newaygo County pursuing an associate degree or skills certificate. 
 
It is nearly intern season, and Hello West Michigan is offering a free training focusing on tips for employers to transition from an in-person experience to a virtual internship program. As organizations shift to incorporate new digital processes, this workshop is designed to leave participants feeling confident in beginning an online internship program. Register today for the May 13th session.
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Looking for more tools in attracting workforce to Newaygo County? Check out this great video put together by the team at The Right Place, highlighting West Michigan.
We’ve just launched entrepreneurial programming for 2021, with the Grow North series.  Are you interested in starting a business in 2021?  Our first session is March 18, and you can still register here.  Our second session will focus on making a home based business flourish, and you can register here.

Place
We all know broadband struggles in Newaygo County, but if your organization has an open wifi connection, you can help!  Partnering with Connect Michigan, we are hoping to beef up the Newaygo County WiFi map, by including any organization with a wifi connection open to the public. Enter your business info here.  

The Newaygo County Tourism Council is gearing up to launch their Spring campaign with the  best ways to do Spring 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
The Right Place invites you to attend the 18th annual Midwest Supply Chain Management Conference on March 25.  Register here.

Would your business benefit from a PPP Loan?  If you did not apply for or receive a loan in the first round, you are encouraged to contact Northern Initiatives, a community development financial institution who supports Newaygo County. 

Did you miss the Newaygo County Economic Outlook on Feb 23?  Watch the replay here. 

Is your business interested in exporting to India or Mexico?  India has a high demand for US-made products such as automotive, IT, medical equipment and environmental & pollution control.  Register now for the April event.  Mexico’s virtual trade mission is scheduled for early Summer, with an April 23 deadline to register.  

Outdoor recreation is trending upward and Michigan is perfectly poised to capitalize on this growth potential!  The Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry is hosting a Supplier Summit on March 23.  Attendees will participate in an educational webinar, and have opportunities to network with buyers and suppliers supporting the outdoor rec industry.  Register here.

March is literacy month, and your United Way of the Lakeshore Newaygo County is raising money for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program, with a Beards for Books challenge!  Newaygo County’s own Robert Ross has his beard on the line, vowing to shave it off once he reaches $1,875.  These funds will provide 900 books for 75 kids in Newaygo County! 

The FCC recently established the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, 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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