Newsletter 
December 2020
Upcoming Meetings
Alliance Executive Committee Meeting
Tuesday, January 5
3:30 p.m.
Via Zoom Meeting
Alliance Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, January 21
7:00 a.m.
Via Zoom Meeting
SAVE THE DATE
Annual Meeting of Investors (virtual)
Thursday, February 18
7:00 a.m.
The Alliance Board of Directors and staff wishes all a healthy and happy Holiday season.
2021 Strategic Planning Update
In January, our annual strategic planning sessions will meet via Zoom. Each of the five Alliance strategy groups will participate to identify priorities and activities for 2021. Alliance Investors are encouraged to join any of these sessions. Please contact Lois Ellis for specific dates and times of each strategic planning session if you have an interest in any of the following areas.
Talent Development and Education Stimulus
Recruit, retain and grow the talent needed to support our employers’ workforce needs.
Infrastructure and Housing Development
Improving access to infrastructure data and encouraging new development opportunities.
Marketing and Branding
Defining & communicating the benefits of living, working & investing in the Dickinson area.
Business Retention and Growth
Promoting and acknowledging the value of businesses in our community.
Government Relations and Advocacy
Building relationships between business and local, state and federal government representatives.
Legislative News
Recently, Governor Whitmer announced a bipartisan commission to educate the State on the COVID-19 vaccine. The state is inviting interested individuals to apply for appointment to serve on the Protect Michigan Commission. Applications details can be found here. The deadline to apply is December 28. 
LOYAL to LOCAL
Are you supporting local this holiday season? As many of you are aware, it is more important than ever to spend at local shops and vendors this year. If you still have some gifts to purchase, please consider buying gifts or gift cards from our local businesses. You can find a list of 27 different local options offering gift cards all in one place here. - THANK YOU - for helping our small business community in these difficult times!
Great Lakes Sports Commission Update
The Great Lakes Sports Commission (GLSC) is a non-profit organization focused on promoting northern Michigan as a premier destination for outdoor recreation, growing youth, amateur and professional athletic competition; and enhancing the region’s economy.

One of the group’s first projects in 2019-2020 was to assist the Kiwanis Ski Club with $3 million in funding support to renovate the Pine Mountain Ski Jump. The newly renovated facility is now scheduled to host the FIS World Cup ski jumping competition in 2022. It is expected that future World Cup events will generate at least $16 million in local economic activity and global television coverage.
The GLSC acts as a catalyst to bring elite events, like World Cup ski jumping, to Michigan. All while attracting new investment and increasing direct spending from participants, athletes and spectators. As a member-driven organization operating in the 36 counties of northern Michigan, the GLSC invites you to get involved. Join the organization, volunteer at or recommend events, or simply share ideas. Learn more here.
Conference on Regional Economic Conditions
The Federal Reserve is offering its fourth annual Regional Economic Conditions Conference on Wednesday, January 13. The half-day conference will focus on the economic impact of COVID-19 across the Ninth District, with special attention paid to the pandemic’s impact on workers. This year’s free event will be virtual and available to all interested individuals in the region. 

The conference will feature keynote speakers, presentations and panel discussions with prominent economists who will spotlight the pandemic’s impact in each state in the Ninth Federal Reserve District, which includes the Upper Peninsula.

Tentative Program
(all times listed are Central Time)
8:30 a.m. Welcome by Neel Kashkari, President of the Minneapolis Fed
8:35 a.m. Pandemic impact in Ninth District states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s U.P.
10:00 a.m. Keynote by Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota
10:50 a.m. Pandemic impact in Ninth District states: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana
12:15 p.m. Conference concludes

State spotlight speakers: U.P./Michigan - Leonidas Murembya, Economic Specialist for the State of Michigan's Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.
SBDC Business Training
On December 3, the Michigan Small Business Development Center presented a webinar titled Funding Your Business in a Pandemic. Over 35 people attended the session and we thank our partners at the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce for helping to get the word out to our local business community.

We are planning for our next SBDC webinar event in early March. Are there topics that you and your business can benefit from learning more about? Please check out a list of topics and send your suggestions to info@DAEDA.org.
Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance | 906-360-4653 | info@daeda.org | www.daeda.org