Traverse Bay EDC Advisory Council - Traverse Bay EDC Monthly Update

Greetings Advisory Council Members!

In an effort to maintain superior communication between all levels of the Traverse Bay EDC, we are pleased to announce the development of a Traverse Bay EDC communications document to keep you informed of what is happening in our region.

This communication will be a monthly update, sent out the first week of the month, and include

Message from the chairman,
Partner County EDC updates and
Traverse City Area Industrial Fund update
Traverse Bay EDC staff update
Other highlights in our region.

As a reminder, the next Advisory Council meeting is September 20, 2007 in Benzie County, location to be determined. I would like to remind you all of the importance of these meetings, as we work together in making the transformation to a new Traverse Bay EDC . The momentum we have built is growing and our region will only benefit further through your leadership and participation in our efforts. I invite you to be a part of these exciting times.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Click here to send an e-mail to Tino

Message from the Chairman

In 2006, we experienced the beginning of an evolving Traverse Bay EDC that started to re-position itself as the regional leader in economic development issues and activites. The Traverse Bay EDC has reinforeced the concept of regionalism and partnership across the four-county region of Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau Counties and has forged new relationships with groups such as the County EDCs, the Traverse Area Association of Realtors and the development and building trades industry groups, amongst others. While we were able to be directly involved in many successful projects during the past year, which will help create 139 jobs and retain 303 existing jobs in the region, the Traverse Bay EDC is starting to develop several strategies that will help define and in some cases re-shape the nature of our regional economy.

As your Traverse Bay EDC continues to evolve, we are in the process of developing new marketing material that tout the Grand Traverse region as a great place to live, work, play and raise families. At the center of our efforts is the focus on the technical, social and economic aspects of our region's economy. Strategies surrounding the retention and attraction of employers and employees of choice (ie, the companies people want to work for and the people that companies want to hire) will be critical to the future successful growth of our region. Additionally, our partnership with Northwestern Michigan College will be critical as we continue looking at how higher education and economic development work together in growing a healthy regional economy. Components of this overall focus include identifiying fresh water research niches, identifying health care and health sciences opportunities, and continuing to expand the entree of capital choices ranging from micro-loan financing to angel fund equity investments for growing companies in the region. These strategies and others are part of our efforts to connect economic development within our region to market economic and technical opportunities beyond our region in the industry clusters that we are targeting for retention and attraction.

These and many other exciting activites are being addressed by your Traverse Bay EDC. I encourage you to get involved and support the efforts of the EDC as we continue our efforts to grow business and build community.

Sincerely,

Dan Wolf
Chairman

Benzie County EDC Update

Frankfort Airport Authority has recieved substantial state and federal funding assistance for airport upgrades. Current activites to obtain air easements and tree-clearing easements are being met with strong resistance from neighboring property owners...