NLEA President, David Emmel, and

Emmet County Administrator, Michael Reaves, will present at the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce State of the Community on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at Crooked Tree Art Center, streaming also available. The two will be part of a panel surrounding key issues in our community's government. You’ll leave the event knowing what’s new, what’s coming, what’s concerning, and what should be celebrated.

The annual State of the Community will be held Tuesday February, 22 with doors opening at 12:30 and program beginning at 1:00 p.m. on at Crooked Tree Art Center. The cost per person will be $20- in- person or streaming ticket $10.  

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) is now accepting applications for its latest round of value-added grants. The Value-Added and Regional Food Systems Grant Program is designed to help retain, expand, attract, or develop agricultural processing in Michigan through targeted investments in technology and equipment, feasibility studies, healthy food access, regional food systems and urban agriculture. Grant proposals must be received by 3:00 p.m. (EST) on March 24, 2022.

The maximum grant award eligible is $100,000 per proposal. Each project will require a minimum 30 percent match. The value-added proposals will be evaluated through a competitive selection process. Applications for grant funds will be asked to outline how the project will impact and produce measurable outcomes for Michigan’s food and agriculture industry.

In December 2021, the Emmet County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the upcoming budget which included $80,000 to receive services from the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance. Along with budget the Board agreed to adopt and execute a three- year agreement to be part of the NLEA.

Next steps are for the NLEA Board of Directors to approve the three recommended appointees made by the Emmet County Board of Commissioners who will represent Emmet County on the NLEA Board of Directors filling the remainder of their five seats.

It's happening May 13, 2022. You won't want to miss the NLEA Economic Symposium. This event features expert panelists, targeted breakout sessions, high-stakes networking, the Showcase Awards, and more.

The Annual Showcase featuring the Guts & Grit Award will top off the event. The Showcase recognizes businesses and organizations that help fulfill the NLEA mission to help communities retain and create quality jobs in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet Counties.

North Central Michigan College has announced a new expedited healthcare program that allows students to earn three professional certifications in less than five months.

The Fast-Track Healthcare Bundle Program prepares students for healthcare careers with three in-demand credentials endorsed by the National Healthcareer Association®. Certifications include Clinical Medical Assistant, EKG Technician, and Phlebotomy Technician.

The program provides students with quick entry into a growing field while helping alleviate a healthcare worker shortage in our region, according to Christy Lyons, director of Corporate and Community Education.

“It is clear from our meetings with local healthcare facilities that there’s an urgent need for medical assistants,” Lyons said. “By condensing this program down to 20 weeks, we will be able to get certified medical assistants into the workforce quickly.”

Could your business be one of Consumers Energy suppliers? Last year the company spent more than $2 billion with Michigan based businesses for a wide array of goods and services.

Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) is partnering with Consumers Energy to host a virtual buyer-supplier matchmaking event. The event will include a webinar presentation followed by pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings to learn how to do business with Consumers Energy.

Interested suppliers should submit an application for one-on-one meetings here by Feb 18th. A separate registration form is required for participation in the webinar - click Register Here to register for the webinar.

Contributed by: Andrea Jacobs, Emmet County Housing Ready Program Director, Housing North

When it comes to solving challenges, such as housing, [let] us...use words like cooperation, innovation, and readiness. Let us remind one another as we seek to be proactive that we do it for each other, our community, and our future generations.

My name is Andrea Jacobs. I am not an economist, or an urban planner. I am the new Emmet County Housing Ready Program Director with Housing North. I think about place and community and home a little differently because my background is in social psychology. Housing matters to the economy.

In Northern Michigan, we are ready. Ready to have tough conversations. Ready to compromise and cooperate. Ready to grow with intention. Ready to protect what we have always loved and create something we are proud to share. With housing partners in place throughout Northern Michigan, new expertise accelerates our capability to find community led solutions.

Our round table is getting bigger, as different areas of our economy affected by housing are ready to take action.

The Michigan Department of Treasury is administering a business grant relief program designed to help certain Michigan businesses that have experienced a financial hardship due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Under the Afflicted Business Relief Grant Program, eligible businesses in operation before Oct. 1, 2019, may receive a percentage of their loss in total state sales through a grant.

Businesses interested in applying are encouraged to attend one of the following informational webinars hosted by the state Treasury Department:

Details for signing up for a webinar can be found on the program site.

How do you get employees to read the product training manual? You text it! Check out this short video of how MSU Extension, Ferris State, and the Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety collaborated on using technology in their favor.

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