Economic Development partnership agenda
Mary Ann Heidemann, Community and Economic Development Agent for Presque Isle County, presented a new Northern Michigan ?Economic Development Partnership Agenda? at Thursday?s County Development Commission/Economic Development Corporation meeting.
?A group of us (EDC agents) got together to develop a Northern Michigan economic development policy and to share ideas,? said Heidemann. ?We want to get it out to the new government administration what it?s about, our concerns and endorsements. From here I will present this to the county board.? Heidemann asked for and got a resolution of support and endorsement for the agenda from the CDC.
Following its presentation to the Presque Isle County Commissioners, Heidemann plans to forward the agenda to the state of Michigan. The agenda contains basic information and stresses the importance of the work performed by the economic development partnership.
IT STATES in part that attention needs to be paid to ensure that Northern Michigan communities have:
?Sources of funding to assist new business financing opportunities.
?State support for the implementation of the Link Michigan program.
?Equal access to the new water/sewer bond funds.
?The ability for all communities to use redevelopment tools created in the ?Core Communities? legislation.
The agenda advises that when making funding decisions, the State should apply proportional or relative job creation/project requirements that recognize a job created in Northern Michigan has greater local economic impact than the same job created in an urban area.
It recommends that appointments to all State boards and commissions should include geographic diversity, including representatives from Northern Michigan.
?THE PURPOSE (of this agenda),? Heidemann said, ?is to show what smaller areas and businesses need to succeed.? The agenda states the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has largely been responsive to the needs of Northern Michigan, and recommendations for future positive MEDC relations included:
?Continued programs that should be maintained and expanded by the State.
?Specialized training opportunities for local economic representatives.
?Working to improve communications.
?Annually allocating a portion of the State?s Community Development Block Grant
The agenda deals with small business start-ups, northern Michigan communities working with State agencies, and CDC/EDC organizations depending on assistance and support from MSU Extension. It also in part stated that northern Michigan communities rely on State supported matching programs to help fund development, and the State should keep in mind support for post-Labor Day school start-up and joint marketing efforts for tourism. Assistance from the State is necessary for infrastructure projects as it is out of range for many rural communities, the agenda continued.
The essence of the agenda stresses the importance of strengthened and enhanced partnership and communication between State and federal agencies in assisting in these efforts for economic development projects.
