Jeffrey Mosher welcomes, Jamie Rahrig is a Michigan Good Food Fund Specialist and Innovation Counselor at MSU’s Center for Regional Food Systems. Did I catch you in East Lansing today?

 {we'll be getting into an event that's coming up next week, but first I wanted to find out more about your services,..

She could speak to the utterly amazing array of FREE services that MSU gives to anyone wanting to start a food business in Michigan. 

The MSU Extension Product Center provides business counseling and helps entrepreneurs launch new food and beverage products.

For example: just one specialized service provided is the development of Nutrition Facts labels. Food businesses may contact the Product Center for assistance with labeling.

Premier Specialty Food Show Coming to Lansing! Making It In Michigan event. April 20th at the Lansing Center.

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Michigan Business Beat | Jamie Rahrig - MSU Gearing up for April 20th Making It in Michigan Event

This episode of the Inside EcoDevo Podcast, features Shawna Searcy, Missouri Economic Development Council President, and Michelle Hataway, MEDC President-elect. Shawna and Michelle discuss MEDC's mission, benefits of its conferences and initiatives, and current and future happenings.

Episode 18 - Missouri Economic Development Council

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Katy Till,  Senior Program Specialist, PMBC, Pure Michigan Business Connect, Lansing, MI.

We've covered things in the past such as 2018's U.N. Procurement Day and 2019's Ag Summit, and now post-pandemic, we're catching up with you about April 20th's Making It In Michigan Conference and Trade Show at the Lansing Center.

Before we get into next week's event please remind the Michigan business community about Pure Michigan Business Connect?

What is PMBC's role in the Making It In Michigan Conference and Trade Show?

How has the business community been set up to interact with the day?

Tell us a little more about the supplier matchmaking?

What will the public who come to the Lansing Center experience next Thursday?

Is there anything else we should know about the Making It In Michigan Conference and Trade Show on April 20th?

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Michigan Business Beat | Katy Till - PMBC Gearing up for April 20th Making It in Michigan Event

For Media Business Episode 50:
Tony Conley welcomes Richard Studley - Retired president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

Twitter handle - Rich Studley, Michigander
Co-Chair successful 2022 Prop 1 campaign transparency/term limits. Former MI Chamber CEO. I believe in free enterprise, personal responsibility & limited govt. Nonprofits & Activist,dependent voter 🇺🇸

Here's a summary of Tony's coverage with Rich:
Richard Studley Interview Questions -

You've been quite active on social media discussing many political and Michigan issues, why?

What challenges do you have with the MEDC?

Do Michigan politicians put Michigan citizens first when it comes to policy.?

What is China's relationship in Michigan business?

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Thank you to Benjamin Robinson and Motor City Skyline's music

Media Business | Richard Studley - Business, Politics and Policy in Michigan

Elizabeth Bernhard shares Episode 2 of the relaunched 'Build Smart, Lead Strong' by conducting a four-part interview with Collen Killen-Roberts, Vice President of Entrepreneurship with the Edward Lowe Foundation, and Rodney Parkkonen, Senior Small Business Manager with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Michigan has invested heavily in its small and medium manufacturers (SMMs), yet many are unaware of the opportunities available to them. In this episode, MGA talks with the pair to find out how they both serve manufacturers in Michigan, and much more. Join this episode to learn about the System for Integrated Growth and Second Stage Growth Solutions, two programs available to you through this collaboration between the Edward Lowe Foundation and MEDC.

Collen Killen-Roberts was recruited to the foundation in 2015. In April 2016 she was promoted to director of entrepreneurship and then named divisional vice president of entrepreneurship in December 2018. In her current role she leads the entrepreneurship team in developing programs that help second-stage entrepreneurs get to the next level. These include: the System for Integrated Growth, PeerSpectives® Roundtables, the American Academy of Entrepreneurs®, Leader Retreats at Big Rock Valley, Entrepreneur in Residence and Legacy Council. Killen-Roberts also cultivates appropriate partners to deliver these programs throughout the country and manages the rollout process.

Rodney Parkkonen serves as small business consultant on the Small Business Services team at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). In his role, Rodney leads programming designed to help second-stage entrepreneurs gain access to strategic information and participate in valuable retreats and roundtables. Additionally, Rodney’s role includes work in building the state’s trusted connector network and helping grow and align the state’s small business support ecosystem. Before joining the Small Business Services team, Rodney worked on teams devoted to securing new business growth, job creation and investment in the State of Michigan.

Colleen and Rodney also both serve on the board for MGA, the Manufacturing Growth Alliance in Michigan. A big focus of this episode is looking ahead to MANUFACTURERS COHORT – A 3-part process to accelerate growth that includes:

#1: A 3-day, 2-night Leadership Retreat at the Edward Lowe Foundation – October 31- November 2, 2023 in Cassopolis, Michigan

A $1,000 value per participant, which includes program facilitation, lodging, meals, snacks and nonalcoholic beverages.

Oct 31, 9:00 AM EDT – Nov 02, 12:00 PM EDT

Edward Lowe Foundation, 58054 Decatur Rd, Cassopolis, MI 49031, USA

Build Smart, Lead Strong | Collen Killen-Roberts, Rodney Parkkonen - MANUFACTURERS COHORT

Chris Holman welcomes back Jacob Schroeder, International Trade Development Manager at MEDC, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Lansing, MI.

Welcome back Jake, we understand that due to a tremendous response from Michigan exporters, MEDC has utilized 100% of its FY2023 MI-STEP funds in record time! Tell us about that?

The next round of MI-STEP Grants will be available on October 1st?

What could interested companies do until then, I imagine it might involve International Trade Managers in their regions across Michigan?

Back to the $1.86M awarded, are there any specific cases of company success you can share? Or any generalized company story or circumstance that can be mentioned as a great example of this program in action?

Does your group still make international trips? Any coming up that we should be aware of?

MI-STEP Grants Available October 1

Due to a tremendous response from Michigan exporters, MEDC has utilized 100% of its FY2023 MI-STEP funds in record time! intl-trade.gif
Between October 2022 and July 2023, more than $1.86 million was awarded to our state’s makers and innovators pursuing business development opportunities in foreign markets. Applications for MI-STEP grants are currently closed, but we look forward to serving you with FY2024 funding when it’s available starting Oct. 1.

Until then, Jake (see below), encourages you to connect with the International Trade Manager in your region to see what other services are available to amplify your company’s international efforts, such as B2B matchmaking, worldwide credit reports, customized market research, and so much more. Whether it’s online tools like localized website management, support in any of the 130+ global markets our trade centers represent, or early-stage assistance to get your product export-ready, we’ve got you covered.

NOTE: We are in the midst of hiring our new International Trade Manager for Southeast Michigan, so companies in Oakland and Wayne counties may email export@michigan.org to work with our team for your export-related needs until a new ITM is announced.

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Michigan Business Beat | Jacob Schroeder MEDC International Trade Details on MI-Step Program Funds

Originally uploaded October 4th
Chris Holman welcomes back  Bo Garcia -  Dean of Community Education & Workforce Development at Lansing Community College · and Executive Director, Business & Community Institute (BCI) at Lansing Community College. 

Bo, thanks again for supporting our recent MBN Speakers Series Mobility and Talent Panel Discussion, tell us what you took away from that event?

Does BCI work with MEDC on talent issues?

Who are organizations outside Lansing Community College that assist you with the Talent Issue?

Do you have any upcoming events with BCI, or is this semester more of a working day-to-day on the issue situation?

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Michigan Business Beat | Bo Garcia - Business & Community Institute (BCI) at LCC Addressing Talent

For these four segments of this episode (Part 2 in the Industry 4.0 Technology Showcase), Elizabeth Bernhard shares show moderator role with Scott Phillips, Expert in Residence and Program Manager of the Industry 4.0 Accelerator. The I4.0 Accelerator, powered by Centrepolis Accelerator and Lean Rocket Lab, accelerates Michigan’s manufacturers adoption of industry 4.0 technologies by connecting them to some of the greatest technology solutions from around the globe. Learn about the trends affecting manufacturers, the challenges their facing, and the solutions they’re adopting.  

Their guests: Kevin Kerwin, President and CEO of Detect-It, and Lionel Vargas-Cruz, Director of Operations, Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC).

continuing our two-part Industry 4.0 technology showcase. Joining Elizabeth as a guest moderator is Scott Phillips, Program Director of the Industry 4.0 Accelerator, powered by Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technical University and Lean Rocket Lab. The role of the Industry 4.0 Accelerator is to maintain ongoing conversations with manufacturers to understand their i4.0 challenges, and to then engage in a global recruitment process to bring the world’s best industry 4.0 tech companies to Michigan to support our manufacturing base. Today we will focus on one of these tech companies, and luckily for Scott and his team, they didn’t have to go far. Detect-It, headquartered in Oak Park, Michigan is a hardware/software company that specializes in AI and Neural Network Technology. We’ll learn about the problems they are solving for manufacturers and take a closer look at how they are helping a Detroit-based manufacturer. ISAIC, or the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center, a national resource for the manufacturing of soft goods, advance solutions that are transforming industry while promoting the upward trajectory of people through training. ISAIC was introduced to Detect-It through the Centrepolis Accelerator and ultimately funded through an Industry 4.0 grant with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and supported by the Manufacturing Growth Alliance.

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Build Smart, Lead Strong |  ISAIC and Detect-It Connected for Industry 4.0 Technology Showcase

Chris Holman welcomes back Tom Kelly, President & CEO, Automation Alley, Troy, MI,

What were some highlights from 2023?

What projects were initiated or continued?

Any big events of note?

Integr8 gets a revamp for 2024, monthly content, and a big event in October, tell us those details

What trade missions are on tap for 2024?

We also look forward to hearing from you in the MBN Speakers Series this coming September!

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Michigan Business Beat | Tom Kelly, Automation Alley Success in 2023 Changes to Integr8 in 2024!

Chris Holman welcomes Travis Alden, Senior Director of Community Development, - The Right Place, Grand Rapids, MI.

[A project to develop a 237-acre parcel in Lowell Charter Township into a commercial and industrial campus was one of 18 projects to receive funds at the end of January from the MEDC’s new Strategic Site Readiness Program]

Welcome Travis, give us a brief overview of MEDC's new Strategic Site Readiness Program?

Tell us the highlights of this new project you're working on in Lowell Charter Twp.?

Getting things "Shovel Ready" ... Does The Right Place have any idea in store for beyond that? --
Or at least categories of businesses to attract or expand in western Michigan with this effort?

These sorts of projects don't happen alone, tell us about cooperation with the township, Franklin Partners, and Advantage Commercial Real Estate?

Here were further details from the time of the announcement:

State awards $17.5 million grant to prepare Lowell Township’s Covenant Business Park for development

237-acre parcel is one of 18 statewide projects awarded by MEDC’s new Strategic Site Readiness Program 

(GRAND RAPIDS, MICH) – Today, The Right Place, Inc., and project partners Franklin Partners and Lowell Charter Township announce they have received $17.5 million from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) new Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) to help prepare the 237-acre Covenant Business Park in Lowell Township for industrial and commercial use. The Lowell site is one of 18 statewide projects announced as recipients of the funds at this morning’s Michigan Strategic Fund board meeting.

About SSRP

The SSRP provides financial incentives to eligible applicants to conduct activities on or related to strategic sites in Michigan to create a statewide inventory of investment-ready sites that will attract and promote investment in the state. The program provides access to grants, loans, and other economic assistance.

In its announcement to the project team, the MEDC noted that the Lowell site is strategic for the region and that the funds will help make progress on preparing the property to become a premier site. The award letter also noted that the property will become a critical offering and help MEDC build a strong pipeline of sites across the state.

More information on the program can be found here.

The funds awarded represent 50% of the $35m needed to get the site “shovel-ready” for development. Most work will center on infrastructure efforts, primarily sewer extension and connection.

About the property

The parcel, which is zoned PUD for industrial and commercial use, is located at the southwest corner of Cascade Road and Alden Nash, just north of I-96; with its proximity to a major highway and minutes from an international airport, Covenant Business Park has been considered to be the finest parcel available in greater Grand Rapids.

Travis Alden, senior director of community development at The Right Place and the project’s lead, formally submitted the request last October. The site owner and developer, Franklin Partners, and real estate broker Advantage Commercial Real Estate are also assisting with the project.

The team’s application received written support from Michael Burns, Lowell’s City Manager; Jerry Hale, Lowell Charter Township’s Supervisor; and state representatives Rep. Joe Tate, Rep. Angela Witwer, Rep. Gina Johnsen, and Rep. Phil Skaggs.

Official Address: 4687 Alden Nash Avenue S.E., Lowell, MI 49331

Total Area: 237 Acres

Developable Area: Approximately 190 Acres

Zoning: PUD for industrial and commercial uses 

More information about the Covenant Business Park project can be found here. 

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Michigan Business Beat | Travis Alden, The Right Place - Pairs with Strategic Site Readiness Program

The Home of Business in Michigan. Get on-demand access to audio programs, articles and resources presented by savvy business leaders and industry experts.

The Inside EcoDevo Podcast, bi-monthly episodes giving an inside look into the Missouri Department of Economic Development. You'll hear directly from our team members working on exciting initiatives that are helping Missourians prosper.

New tracks tagged #MEDC