Catch up on our latest News and Scroll to end for Upcoming Event Info, and Core Partner Updates!
Get your Tickets for the Grand Event!
Come out and cheer on t he top three winners of Antrim Pitch Night and Invest Cheboygan County as they compete for their share of an additional $18,000 in startup funds for their businesses!




November 20 | Boyne Mountain Resort
Doors Open 5:00pm | Event Starts 5:30pm

Free admission, but you must reserve a seat.
U.S. Congressman Jack Bergman Honors Aster Brands for Exporting Success
Buck Love, Business Retention & Growth
U.S. Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) presented Aster Brands of Charlevoix with the U.S. Commercial Service’s Export Achievement Certificate on Friday, November 8.

Kendra Kuo, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service and Chris Bosio, International Trade Manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) asked Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) to invite a select group of local city, county, and state representatives along with executives from local manufacturing companies for discussion and celebration of Aster Brands at their award ceremony.

Press Release Provided By the U.S. Commercial Service
Six entrepreneurs advance to Grand Event
finale Business Model Competition
Carly Bortz, Administrative/Communications
19 entrepreneurs from Cheboygan and Antrim Counties pitched their business model at two Northern Michigan Pitch Night events last week for a chance to win their share of $35,000 in combined startup funds at Invest Cheboygan County November 6, and Antrim Pitch Night on November 8.

The top three winners from both Invest Cheboygan County and Antrim Pitch Night will now advance to the Grand Event finale Business Model Competition Wednesday, November 20 at Boyne Mountain Resorts to compete for their share of an additional $18,000 in funds.
Invest Cheboygan County Winners
1st Place-$12,000: Matt Whitener, Northland Brewing
2nd Place $6,000: Laurie & Terry Musclow, Secrets On Main Bed & Breakfast
3rd Place $3,000 & People's Choice Award $1,500: Ben Kurth, Kurth Robotics
Antrim Pitch Night Winners
1st Place $10,000 & People's Choice Award $500: Audrey Hartzel & Marissa Griffore,
A&M Beauty
2nd Place $3,000: Dan & Melanie Bennett, Breezeway Paddlesports
3rd Place $1,500: Melissa Zelenak & Carson Rubis, Sunshine Recycling
Northeast Michigan Council of Governments rolls out new tool
Jessica Lovay, Community Development & Grants
It is no secret that a hurdle for all of Northern Michigan is access to high-speed internet. To combat the issue, the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) has rolled out a new interactive tool—a regional vertical asset inventory. In partnership with Connected Nation Michigan, an organization working to better serve Michigan so that all can receive the benefits of broadband, they have created an interactive map to help identify and catalog public and private areas that are available for expansion of broadband internet infrastructure.
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