Alliance News

Newsletter

January 2025

HiUpcoming Meetings & Event

Alliance Executive Committee

Thursday, February 6

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Bay College Iron Mountain Room 244

Alliance Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, February 20

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Bay College Iron Mountain Room 244

SAVE THE DATE

Alliance Annual Meeting

Thursday, March 20

7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Pine Grove Country Club

2025 Board of Directors Appointments

At the December Board meeting, the Board appointed one new director and reappointed four directors to serve three-year terms ending in 2027. The Board also unanimously approved the slate of officers for 2025. We thank all the candidates who submitted applications for their interest in volunteering with our organization.

Newly Elected Director

Ryan Danielson, Danielson Insurance Agency, INC.

Re-elected Directors

Tony Edlebeck, Retired City of Kingsford

Russ Kassin, First National Bank & Trust

Lee Lofstrom, Industrial Development Corp.

Ryan Gordon, Stephen’s Real Estate

Officers for 2025

Chair - Tony Edlebeck, retired/City of Kingsford

Vice-Chair – Benji Wood, Range Bank

Secretary/Treasurer – Russ Kassin, First National Bank & Trust

Congratulations, and thank you to all!

We appreciate our Board of Directors for the commitment, input, and guidance they provide to the Alliance.

Belong Dickinson

We are excited to announce the launch of Belong, the new living and working initiative of The Alliance!

Belong (verb): to be a member of

Finding purpose and fulfillment through work and community involvement increases the quality of life and sense of belonging when individuals are united with others through shared interests.

Each month we will be releasing a story about community involvement while highlighting investor businesses on our new website belongdickinson.org.

This initiative is investor-funded and open to all Alliance investors. For more information on participating, please contact Mindy at mindy.meyers@daeda.org.

Alliance Roundtable for Earned Sick Time Act

The Alliance hosted a follow-up roundtable event, thanks to a generous grant from the DTE Foundation, with Attorney Jacob Lynch of Ryan & Lynch Law and Tony Flaminio, CPA of Fleury, Singler & Co on Tuesday, January 7 at Pine Grove Country Club. This law is required of all Michigan businesses due to the Michigan Supreme Court ruling on the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) and Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (IWOWA). We are keeping our eye on the law and will update you with any changes prior to February 21.

Resources pertaining to ESTA can be found here.

This event is generously supported by the DTE Foundation.

Small Business Support HUB

You are invited to attend the Small Business Support Hub informational event, hosted by Small Business Resource Navigator Jose Laynez on Thursday, January 23 at 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Bay College Iron Mountain Room 231A.

The Small Business Support Hub has direct grants available for small businesses.

The competitive Direct Grants (a maximum of $10,000) may be used for the following:

Equipment, inventory, software, and hardware; the cost of any single unit of which cannot exceed $4,999
Highly specialized consulting services
Initial (not renewal) of certification or licensure – received by 9/30/2026
Any other HUB approved cost (that is not an ineligible cost)

Grant applications will be accepted January 17 through February 14, 2025, and Jose will share how to navigate available resources through the Small Business Support Hub and ensure your grant applications are complete and competitive for the second direct grant application window.

Lunch will be provided to all participants. This event is free but does require registration. Please register here.

If you cannot make the event but are interested in applying for a grant, please contact Jose Laynez (906) 370-6563 or centralupsmallbizhub.org.

Business Training Webinars Offered

Michigan’s Small Business Development Center offers free webinars to help businesses achieve and sustain profitability and growth. A full range of topics are available both as pre-recorded, on-demand sessions or during live webinars. Check out the upcoming schedule for topics that interest you, or visit the library of on-demand sessions.

Writing a Business Plan Webinar - January 28
Forming your LLC or DBA Webinar - January 30
Write a Professional Business Plan with LivePlan - February 12
Maximize Your Google Business Listing Webinar - February 19

NMU Career Fair

Employers are welcome to sign up for the Engineering Technology & Manufacturing Career Fair on Thursday, February 13, from 1-4 p.m. ET at the Jacobetti Complex on NMU's campus in Marquette.

More information can be viewed here.

Annual STEM Night January 28

STEM Night is an opportunity for students in grades K-4 to explore STEM-related job fields and activities. Woodland Elementary is proud to host this event, where over 200 learners and an additional 200-250 adults attend each year. Students move throughout the school to complete a variety of tasks created by teachers and business volunteers.

Many Alliance Investors will provide educational activities for the attendees at the event.

Join Operation Action U.P. on February 13

The Operation Action U.P. (OAUP) Excellence Awards will recognize four outstanding for-profit businesses that have contributed to the economic well-being of the Upper Peninsula. Each year, the members of OAUP and the business community from across Michigan's Upper Peninsula gather to review the accomplishments of the past year and cast the vision for the future. View this year’s agenda and register today at operationactionup.com/annual-meeting.

Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance

(920) 379-6611 | info@daeda.org | www.daeda.org

STAY CONNECTED!