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NLEA | Top 5 Reasons Not to Miss the Symposium & Showcase

March 23, 2023

Michigan Business Network

Have you heard? The 2023 Northern Lakes Economic Symposium and Showcase is on Monday, May 22 at Boyne Mountain Resort! To support the businesses and communities across the region that are confronting the challenge of attracting talent, this year’s theme is Talent Attraction and Retention. Presenters will offer solutions to the question: What can the businesses and communities of Northern Lower Michigan do to attract the workforce necessary for our region to thrive?

Michele Wildman, Executive Vice President for Economic Development Incentives with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), will lead a breakout session exploring MEDC programs geared towards placemaking. Community leaders will have the opportunity to learn how to leverage MEDC programs to build communities that are a more desirable place to live, work, and play.

Data reveals that Northern Michigan’s flourishing craft beverage industry is outpacing national growth. How can the region best support the sector in an era of talent constraints? Breakout session panelists Emily Hengstebeck, Scott Newman-Bale, and Chris Fredrickson will delve into this, and other, questions.

The second annual Northern Lakes Economic Symposium & Showcase is a forum for local and state government officials, community and business leaders, area entrepreneurs, chamber members, educational leaders, and everyone involved in the economic vitality of our region for sharing of knowledge of the economic drivers of the region, networking, and celebration. The top 5 reasons you don’t want to miss it:

Learn what we can do to attract the workforce necessary for our region to thrive.
Networking with 300 others who care about our region’s economy.
Panel discussions on attracting and retaining awesome employees.
The Showcase is like the Oscars for economics, without the drama.
You don’t have to go the office on a Monday!

Now is the time to get your tickets. All the details are in the link below. If you have additional questions contact Sam Bailey at the NLEA.

To summarize: The 2023 Northern Lakes Economic Symposium and Showcase is on Monday, May 22 at Boyne Mountain Resort! To support the businesses and communities across the region that are confronting the challenge of attracting talent, this year’s theme is Talent Attraction and Retention. Presenters will offer solutions to the question: What can the businesses and communities of Northern Lower Michigan do to attract the workforce necessary for our region to thrive?

Through keynote speakers and breakout sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to examine talent challenges through global, community, industry cluster, and business lenses.

One keynote speaker is Dr. Michael Horrigan, President of the WE Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. We have also confirmed Dr. Peter Berg of MSU’s School of Human Resources and Labor Relations to lead a breakout session. Read more about each of these speakers below.

Meet the Speakers

Sponsorship & Tickets Available!

The second annual Northern Lakes Economic Symposium & Annual Showcase is a forum for local and state government officials, community and business leaders, area entrepreneurs, chamber members, educational leaders and everyone involved in the economic vitality of our region for sharing of knowledge of the economic drivers of the region, networking, and celebration.

Now is the time to get your tickets and secure your sponsorship to be highlighted at the Symposium & Showcase. All the details are in the link below. If you have additional questions contact Sam Bailey at the NLEA.

Save Your Spot

Help Shape Workforce Development

Speaking of talent attraction and retention, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity is looking for feedback through a survey for Michigan businesses to help the state better understand the need for talent. The survey is just under 20 questions and should take around 10 minutes to complete.

Please take some time to complete the survey below to help the state better target outreach, trainings and other programs.

Take the survey

Tax Abatement Basics

By Buck Love, NLEA Business Retention & Growth Specialist

What is a tax abatement, how do they work and why are they used? A basic understanding of these questions will help dispel any negative connotations and misconceptions that tax abatements take money away from local communities. Tax abatements actually help to increase the tax base for a local unit of government.

See who can apply and what the process is by clicking Read More in the article below.

Congratulations Char-Em ISD & Jim Rummer

Jim Rummer, the director of Career and Technical Education for the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District and 2022 NLEA Board Chair, was recently named the Michigan Association for Career and Technical Education’s 2023 CTE Administrator of the Year.

Over the past 15 years, Rummer has helped grow the ISD’s CTE programs and advocated for the skilled trades as high-paying, in-demand, crucial jobs for young adults after they graduate from high school. Today, Char-Em ISD and local school district partners offer 20 different CTE courses.

Now in his fourteenth year on the NLEA Board of Directors, Rummer brings an insightful workforce development lens to NLEA leadership and is constantly working to create opportunities for local youth.

Congratulations and thank you Jim!

Level Up with a Rural Entrepreneurship Program

Are you struggling to scale your company? Like many second-stage business owners, you may be noticing systems that once served you well are now starting to show cracks – or that you need new skills and more targeted information in order to continue growing profitably. The System for Integrated Growth® (SIG) hosted though the Michigan Economic Development Corporation provides guidance to shore up fundamental areas inside your company – and information to grow sales and achieve higher profits.

ELIGIBILITY:

Be a for-profit, privately held company headquartered and operating in State of Michigan.
Have generally between $1 million and $50 million in annual revenue.
Employ generally 10 to 99 full-time equivalent W-2 employees, including the owner.
Have both the appetite and aptitude for growth in terms of revenue or jobs.
Deliver products or services locally or beyond the current service area and is a company that provides substantial employment to the community.