![]() 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 ReThink West Michigan is back! This year, Hello West Michigan will host a virtual event on November 10th . Employers across West Michigan are encouraged to participate, but space is limited! Learn more and reserve your employer booth today! Unemployment rates in Newaygo County, currently at 4.6%, continue to lag slightly behind the State of Michigan, at 4.4%. However, our rates are much better than the national average of 5.3%. Creating a robust internship program is one way to fill the future talent pipeline. 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. 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. 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. Place Now, more than ever, PLACE is the differentiator for attracting and retaining employees. Consider including a focus on the quality-of-life Newaygo County offers in your job postings, including seasonal information like the best ways to do fall in Newaygo County. More general 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. Prosperity Pure Michigan Business Connect is offering a grant program designed to break down barriers preventing Michigan businesses from winning purchase orders. Up to $15,000 is available. Learn more and apply here. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s International Trade program has a wealth of expertise and resources available, including their MI-STEP grant program. Up to $15,000 is available to assist with export-related expenses. Learn more here. Michigan State University’s Industrial Assessment Center invites small and medium-sized manufacturers and commercial building owners to participate in their no-cost technical assessment, providing resources to save energy, improve productivity, and reduce waste. Learn more and apply here. Applications are now open for the Women Up & Pitch contest, hosted by Michigan Women Forward. Women entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply prior to November 10th for a chance to win $10,000. We are gearing up for our 4th and final Grow North event of 2021, designed to help connect and enhance knowledge of local entrepreneurs. The session on November 18th focuses on excelling during the holiday season in order to survive the slow Q1 we often experience in rural communities. We are partnering with the Muskegon Innovation Hub, River Country Chamber of Commerce, SBDC, and SCORE for this session. Special guests include Shelly Staeven from Downtown Threadz! Register to attend here: https://fb.me/e/Exl013v9 EPA just announced an invitation for communities to apply for Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance. This program is open to any municipality or nonprofit to apply and focuses on communities with large natural assets such as our beautiful rivers and lakes. Applications are due November 22nd. More info here. Join the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) team and DTE Energy for a virtual event on Wednesday, November 3rd, from 3:00-4:00 pm, focused on supply chain opportunities in renewable energy. DTE is looking for civil construction services, electrical contracting, storage and transportation service, manufacturing services including racking and fabrication, and more. Register here: https://pmbc.connect.space/dte-renewable-energy-event/details Join the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) team and Ford Motor Company for a virtual supply chain matchmaking event providing Michigan businesses opportunities to meet with buyers to discuss purchasing needs. Ford Motor Company is seeking companies to provide IT, Marketing, Transportation, and more. Learn more and register here: https://pmbc.connect.space/ford-motor-company-matchmaker/forms The FCC established the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program earlier this year. Broadband assistance for low-income residents offers 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. 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
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February 2025
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