 |
Alliance Executive Committee Meeting
Tuesday, July 28
3:30 p.m.
Via Zoom Meeting
|
|
|
|
Alliance Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, August 20
7:00 a.m.
Via Zoom Meeting
|
|
|
|
Dickinson County Housing Assessment Available
|
|
The Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission (CUPPAD) released the 2020 Housing Marketing Assessment for Dickinson County this month. Key findings highlight opportunities for real estate developers and property owners.
The results of this study show there is a significant demand for rental housing - specifically studios, duplexes, and 2+ bedroom units to support families with children. The market may also support smaller owner-occupied units such as condominiums or townhomes. The study also shows an appetite for upgrading or redevelopment of older homes - especially near downtown areas.
The full report is available on our website
under the Live and Work tab or
here
.
|
|
Business In Focus
Feature Published
The Dickinson Area is featured in the July issue of
Business In Focus
magazine highlighting the Alliance’s unique approach to economic development. The article chronicles the steps taken to reformat the area’s economic development structure and collaboratively develop strategies to address our opportunities and challenges. The full article is available on our website under the Live and Work tab or
here
.
|
|
Loyal to Local Enters Third Year
Loyal to Local is pleased to be starting the third year of the program that raises awareness of the importance of supporting our local businesses, at a time when that support is more critical than ever before. As renewals and new participants continue to join the movement, there are currently 94 participants for the new program year.
Two new features have been added to the program recently. A gift card page has been added to
loyal2local.org
, where consumers can find many gift card options in one place along with information on purchasing the cards from local businesses. The Loyal to Local Planning Committee is also working with the area’s large employers to offer a holiday season, bulk gift card, purchase option with any of our Loyal to Local participants.
The program also received a boost from a generous donation from Great North Bank to support the addition of six new businesses from our neighboring Wisconsin communities. We welcome these businesses to Loyal to Local and appreciate the interest and support from Great North Bank to raise awareness of the program across the border.
|
|
Bartoletti’s Supper Club
Florence Auto Parts
Pit Stop Gas Station
Seven1Five Outpost
The Tavern on Central
Up Nort’ Sweet & Savory
|
|
|
There is still time to join or renew your participation in Loyal to Local! Please email
loyaltolocal@daeda.org
or call Lois Ellis at 906-360-4653.
|
|
Tuesday, July 28
8:15 - 9:15 am
As businesses continue to see requirements from the State of Michigan relating to workplace safety and mitigating COVID-19, InvestUP, the Lake Superior Community Partnership, and local economic partners from across the region have combined efforts to provide an informational webinar as a resource for any Upper Peninsula business. The webinar will provide a summary and update on workplace safety requirements and best practices.
Panelists
Sean Egan, Director of COVID-19 Workplace Safety for the State of Michigan
Bart Pickelman, Director of the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA)
Advanced questions for Directors Egan and Pickelman can be submitted until July 27, 2020 at 5pm ET to
invest@investupmi.com
.
|
|
*NEW* Survey for U.P. Businesses
A new survey is being conducted by Upper Peninsula economic development organizations. With the hope of receiving feedback from employers and employees located across the region, this survey is designed to measure the economic impact and better understand the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business community. All responses are confidential and results will only be reported in aggregate. This survey will help U.P. economic developers identify current challenges on the road to recovery and share compiled data with local, state and federal policy makers to advocate for our communities.
As an incentive to participate, those who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift card. The survey deadline is
Friday, July 24, 2020
at 5:00 PM
|
|
Federal Reserve Survey
The Minneapolis Federal Reserve is hoping to better understand the pandemic effects on individual firms as well as local, regional, and state economies more broadly which, in turn, will help the Federal Reserve System shape monetary policy to help businesses weather this economic shock.
- All responses are anonymous
- If you receive this survey from multiple sources, please only respond to the survey once
- To maintain anonymity, a business should not include any self-identifying information in any comments
Check out the article from their May results
here
.
|
|
Michigan Restart Grant Applications Accepted until August 5
|
|
The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $100 million program that will provide grants to small businesses around Michigan working to recover from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 virus, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced. The Michigan Small Business Restart Program application will be open through Wednesday, August 5.
To qualify for grant support, businesses must meet the following criteria, based on statutory requirements for the program:
· Is a business or nonprofit that can demonstrate it is affected by the COVID-19 emergency
· Needs working capital to support eligible expenses
· Demonstrates an income loss as result of the COVID-19 emergency
· Additionally, at least 30 percent of the funds awarded under the program must be provided to women-owned, minority-owned or veteran-owned eligible businesses.
The Upper Peninsula has been allocated $4,545,455 to be administered to businesses throughout all 15 counties. Details and application instructions can be found
here
. If you have questions, please email
info@daeda.org
.
|
|
Michigan Offers Agricultural Safety Grants
|
|
Fifteen million dollars in economic assistance for Michigan farms and agricultural processors, to mitigate risks of the COVID-19 virus across the state’s food production industry, gained approval from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) recently. These grants will provide much needed funding to Michigan’s agricultural processors and farms in support of this critical industry in the state. Please click
here
for details.
|
|
$8.55 Million in COVID-19 Workplace Safety Grants will help employers protect workers
|
|
With employers across the state working to keep their employees, customers and communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Michigan has launched
Michigan COVID-19 Safety Grant Program
. These grants will provide small businesses matching funds of – up to $10,000 – to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread through safety and health-related equipment purchased and training in response to COVID-19.
|
|
COVID-19 Testing July 24 Kingsford
|
|
The Michigan National Guard will continue its partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan State Police, and local health departments to offer drive-through COVID-19 testing at the Kingsford Middle/High School parking lot
Friday, July 24
from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
