Greetings! We hope you enjoy our February 2018 Newsletter!
Connect to YOUR Future Workforce
The MI Bright Future initiative brings together education, industry, students and job seekers by providing a safe, free, one-stop place for employers to connect with their future workforce, accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection.

Join manufacturers and businesses in Monroe County on Thursday, March 1, to find out more about this opportunity by attending a special session entitled " Connect to Your Future Workforce ." We will have a continental breakfast ready and waiting for your arrival!
Too few students and jobseekers are completing degrees and certifications in high-demand fields, causing many Michigan companies to struggle and compete with one another to find the workers they need. With additional positions to be left vacant when the aging workforce retires, Michigan employers are facing a serious pipeline problems.
MI Bright Future is a collaboration of regional intermediary school districts, post-secondary education, and workforce partners working to help students become better connected to the industries that will need them in the future. Using a web-based software, students are able to explore various industries by connecting with local companies offering work-based learning opportunities like job shadowing, internships and company tours.

Employers and community mentors can also interact with students through secure online discussion boards. Companies can nourish their talent pipeline by providing content, mentoring, or sharing valuable knowledge with local students. Click here to view a list of additional options that can be customized especially for your business.

 
We are looking for Monroe County businesses to join the MI Bright Future community by creating a profile in the system as well as individuals who will consider serving as online career coaches to help high school students gain an understanding of the companies and careers available in Monroe County. Join us on March 1 and learn how easy it is to get involved!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Carrie Bonofiglio , Business Partnerships Coordinator for MI Bright Future via the email link above or by calling 517-282-1246.
BDC's New Board Member
We welcome Carolyn Bennett to Monroe County BDC's Board of Directors! Carolyn is Economic Development Manager for DTE Energy in Southeast Michigan. She will be replacing Mark King on our Board following his retirement from DTE Energy in December 2017.

Carolyn is a graduate of Central Michigan University and holds a Masters degree from Michigan State University. Her 40-year career in Economic Development includes working with local and regional governments as well as the State of Michigan.
She joined DTE Energy in 2008 in Economic Development and enjoys her ever expanding position. She holds a number of board positions in Southeast Michigan and is an active member of the Michigan Economic Development Association of Michigan.

Continuing to have DTE Energy represented on the BDC Board of Directors is beneficial to our organization and to Monroe County. The BDC is pleased to have Carolyn as a Board Member and looks forward to seeing what her expertise and experience brings to the table in the coming years.
And, there is more ...
> The Supplier Application for the  2018 Pure Michigan Agriculture Summit   is now open! If your product is Michigan-made and you’re looking to sell to grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, institutions such as hospitals, universities, and corporations that are interested in buying fresh produce, bakery items, animal proteins, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, packaged snacks, specialty items and more, you will have an opportunity to meet with buyers in one-on-one meetings or at walk-up tables during the matchmaking event. Through a custom application process, needs are collected from purchasing companies like Kroger, Kellogg, Whole Foods, Beaumont Hospital and the University of Michigan, and you are given the opportunity to apply for meetings with them.

As a reminder, not all suppliers will be selected to meet for the scheduled meetings but will still have an opportunity to meet with buyers at their walk-up tables, meet with our resource partners and agriculture consultants, and network with other summit attendees. For further details on the event, please click on the link above.

>> Registration for the 2018 Pure Michigan Aerospace Summit opened Feb. 5. The free, one-day matchmaking event, hosted by Pure Michigan Business Connect, will happen at the new Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. It’s time to REGISTER so you can connect with global aerospace buyer and hundreds of qualified Michigan suppliers at the Summit on February 21. For more information, click the link above, or ... click the box below to register!
>>> The MedHealth Summit brings together healthcare providers, medical innovation businesses, entrepreneurs, research institutions, economic developers, insurers, and investors to build collaboration opportunities in the region. Join us April 19 at 8:00 am at the Garden Theater in Detroit. To learn more, click on the link above.
 
>>>> To Our Investors ... Our Annual Investors' Meeting is being held at Tenneco this year on Wednesday, March 28. Watch your email for registration details being sent out soon!
  Please feel free to contact us anytime!
Tim Lake  x101 |  LuAnn Hogberg x102
734-241-8081