A historic office building in downtown Monroe is becoming a new home to several community, nonprofit organizations. Although we are moved in, we are only in the beginning stages of improvements and ideas to build out this shared office environment.

“We are excited to partner together in this space” said Tim Lake, President and CEO of the BDC. “Our organizations share many of the same key stakeholders so any chance to share costs allows us to utilize more resources on initiatives that help execute the mission and vision of each organization. We have worked together on a variety of community projects in the past and it is great to have everyone together.”

We will be holding an Open House on Wednesday, September 22, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. Stop by and take a tour of the new home for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Child Care Network, Community Foundation of Monroe County, and the BDC.

So, mark your calendar and join us! Learn a little about each organization and what we do for Monroe County. See our new office space and our future plans!

It is no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has made it more difficult for companies to combat talent shortages. Shortages are evident in highly technical positions in the fields of operations, logistics and manufacturing as well as countless unfilled roles that emphasize communication such as customer service, office administration, and marketing. Fortunately, there are a few options for you to assist with the building of local talent and the upskilling of current talent.

The State of Michigan has made the decision to fund the Going PRO Talent Fund again for FY 21/22. The Going PRO Talent Fund, formerly known as the Skilled Trades Training Fund, makes awards to employers to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training funded by the Talent Fund must be short-term and fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer. In order to be eligible for funding, the training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by the industry.

Given the uncertainties surrounding the ongoing pandemic, Monroe County Intermediate School District will be partnering with SEMCA/Michigan Works! to host a virtual Manufacturing Day. Manufacturing Day 2021 will take place on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1st, 2021. Participating companies will have the opportunity to speak with a group of high school students from Monroe/Wayne Counties and take them on a virtual tour of their operation. Utilizing the program "V-Fairs" students will have the opportunity to interact with manufacturing companies in real time and have their questions answered on the spot. SPACE IS LIMITED for MFG Day 2021 so please register as soon as possible to reserve your spot: MANUFACTURING DAY REGISTRATION LINK

In addition to Going PRO and MFG Day, Monroe County Community College is seeking participants for the Michigan Reconnect Program. If you have employees that do not have a college degree and are over the age of 25, this program may help you in connecting them with skills to progress in your company. Through the Michigan Reconnect, a program of the State of Michigan, students can apply to MCCC tuition free to earn an associated degree or pell grant-eligible skill certificates. To learn more, visit MCCC's website.

If you have specific questions or would like to know more about getting involved with Monroe County Talent initiatives, please reach out to Matt via email or by calling 734-241-8081 x 3.

RSVP is a perfect link in helping your employees’ transition from career to retirement. There is no cost to joining RSVP. The only requirements are the individual must be 55 or older and live in Monroe County (notice retirement is not a requirement – many of our volunteers are still working). For more information about RSVP as a national organization, please go to the website at: https://americorps.gov. If you would like to learn more about Monroe County RSVP, please contact Beth Berlin via email link or by calling 734.241.0408.  

The Monroe County Brand - Michigan's Cornerstone was developed to bring visibility and possibilities to our corner of Michigan. If you own a business or organization in Monroe County, this brand is free for you to use.

It is meant to compliment your existing marketing strategies. There are so many different variations of the logo files, and you can make them your own just by changing the colors to match your existing files.

To gain access to the files, visit michcornerstone.com and click JOIN US. From there, click on the link under Request Brand Logo Files. Once you submit the form, we will send to you a link for access to all of the files. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact LuAnn at the BDC (734-241-8081 x2).

Here are some things happening in our area that may be of interest to you! Please pass them along to others if you think of someone that may have an interest in the content.

Come out and support local dreamers and doers at the 2nd Ever "Pitch and Pour." Entrepreneurs will have 1-3 minutes to pitch their new business idea in front of a live audience for the chance to win a prize.

To register, please click here:

Oops ... Due to unforeseen circumstances, the date for the EDC Municipal Planning & Zoning Conference is being changed from Sept. 16 to either Sept. 29 or 30, 2021. We are still finalizing plans, as you can see, so please save both dates on your calendar.

Watch your email for a formal invitation and more specifics about this event! And, please feel free to forward this information to anyone who may have an interest in attending.

DTE Energy and the Engineering Society of Detroit is hosting the 23rd Michigan Energy Efficiency Conference & Exhibition. Click on the photo to view the pdf or click here to visit their website.

Monroe County Highlights by Florence Buchanan

The Monroe County Link Plan Pillar Teams have been busy with activity this past month. Please view the July's highlights here.

If you would like to learn more or get involved in the Monroe County Link Plan, please contact the Project Manager, Florence Buchanan, via email or by phone at (419) 654-1934. You may also visit the Monroe County Link website!