In Partnership With

NLEA | Saying Goodbye…

July 5, 2023

Michigan Business Network

Your Latest Economic News in Northern Michigan!

Plus Core Partner Updates!

David Emmel Announces Retirement from NLEA

David Emmel has announced his retirement as President of the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA). Emmel’s retirement was effective June 1^st; however, he will remain with the organization on a part-time basis to continue to lead its operations and assist with the transition to a new leader.

Emmel started with the NLEA in October of 2020 and said that he had planned a much longer tenure, however, life changes have occurred in his family that require more of his personal attention. “Our family demands have increased substantially which require me to re-prioritize my time and energy,” he said in his letter to the Board of Directors.

He stressed to the board that his passion for the NLEA’s mission has not and will not waver. “Serving in this capacity has truly been an honor,” he said in his letter noting that he has enjoyed working with everyone who has been committed to community and economic development in our region. “[It’s] a purpose which I have, and will continue to be committed and supportive,” he added.

David’s retirement opens a career opportunity for the next President of NLEA. For more information and details on how to apply, click the link below.

Read Job Description

How Much Does Tourism Really Impact

the Local Economy?

By Sam Bailey, Strategic Initiatives Manager

The short answer, a lot. Now that it is June, seasonal residents and visitors are arriving in Northern Lower Michigan, filling local restaurants and hotels, shopping in stores, attending festivals and community events. In policy discussions, Northern Lower Michigan is often characterized as having a tourism or resort economy, but what is the actual impact of the industry?

There are many ways to examine the impact of an industry: jobs, consumer spending, wages paid, and other metrics. Fortunately, Pure Michigan releases annual reports that review the economic impact of tourism at the county level. In total, visitor spending in the NLEA service area grew from $856.6 million in 2016 to $1.09 billion in 2021.

Click below to see how visitors spend their money and the number of jobs that they create.

See the Impact

NLEA 2022 Annual Report Published

In June, the NLEA released its Annual Report which summarizes its activities in 2022. Click the image below to learn more about the regional impact of the NLEA and its goals moving forward.

Choose the North: 2023 Intern Project

To address the talent challenges faced by many local businesses, the 2023 NLEA/DTE Energy Foundation Interns are launching a talent attraction campaign and brand to show what makes living and working in Northern Lower Michigan special. The team’s goal is to target individuals 18- to 30-years-old, a demographic that the region is losing but is integral to the workforce. Social media content will show the unique lifestyle the region has to offer through interviews with locals who are living their best lives in Northern Lower Michigan.

Engage today!

How to Engage

Your Opinion is Needed

Take the Education-Friendly Employer Survey

“The Michigan Office of Sixty by 30 with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) will be launching a new initiative to support continuing education of Michigan’s workforce and the role employers can play in moving the needle towards the State’s educational attainment goal to have 60% of working age adults with a postsecondary credential by 2030.”

In order to ensure our region is well represented, the state must have accurate information when assessing support.

Consider taking 10 minutes to fill out this survey regarding how employers are supporting the education pursuits of their employees in Michigan.

Founded Outdoors Partners

with Michigan Organizations

Via InsideOutdoor Magazine- Bruce Christian

Founded Outdoors, a national platform for outdoor entrepreneurs has partnered with the Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) in a year-long program to educate and connect entrepreneurs with the state’s product design and scaled manufacturing opportunities.

Launched in 2021, Founded Outdoors supports emerging businesses nationwide through community, programming, and connections, to increase access in the outdoor industry as well as in outdoor places.

The Founded Outdoors community includes more than 400 outdoor entrepreneurs at different stages across multiple product categories.

Keep Reading

MIO Launches Online Tools

Via Michigan Executive Office of the Governor

Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO) launched a set of online tools to serve Michigan communities as a one-stop shop to learn how to connect with federal infrastructure funding opportunities, request technical assistance from the state and track project funding.

The tools include the Community Navigator and Infrastructure Investment Tracker, which currently track projects ranging from roads to water to high-speed internet.

“We are incredibly excited about the launch of these online tools, as it both holds us accountable and provides full transparency to the residents of Michigan on the infrastructure projects in process,” said Michigan’s Chief Infrastructure Officer Zachary Kolodin. “We believe it’s important for all Michiganders to have visibility of the dollars coming in, and this funding has the power to be transformative and empower communities across the state.”