2006 Chamber Annual Report

2007 Traverse Bay EDC Annual Report

2008 Economic Forecast

2008 Industrial Guide
The primary purpose of the Industrial Guide is to help area businesses identify potential suppliers and customers within our region. The Guide illustrates the diversity of our region’s manufacturing base and its significant impact on our area economy. The 2008 Industrial Guide provides detailed information on more than 100 manufacturing companies in our region and lists companies by alphabetical order, product classification, and county.

2006 Economic Summit
The most recent Economic Summit was held at the Hagerty Center on October 12, 2006. The intent of the Summit was to prepare a set of strategic guideposts for regional economic development. The Economic Summit addressed up-to-date information on economic structure and regional economic conditions, industry value nets or economic systems, employer and employee of choice concepts, economic impact of job groupings, and the macro and micro environmental issues that shape economic prospects and drivers of real and sustainable economic growth for our region.

This Economic Summit is an opportunity to recast a positive, forward-focused economic development strategy. But, it is only a piece of the puzzle, a start on a long expedition to help prepare the region as a magnet for employers of choice, managers of choice and employees of choice. Properly addressed through the broader agenda of the Traverse Bay EDC and its many stakeholder partners in the public and private sectors, what we engage in and discover at the 2006 Economic Summit can be among the most valuable elements of our forward planning.

Partner Reports / Publications

NWMCOG Quality of Life Index
Benchmarks Northwest is a community planning and monitoring tool, created by the Northwest Council of Governments, which assesses quality of life conditions in Northwest Michigan communities. The Benchmarks Northwest product is organized by broad categories or “indicator” topic reports. These indicator topics include Culture and Recreation, Economy and Employment, Education, Government and Politics, Growth and Change, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment, Public Safety, and Social Environment. Each of these indicator reports provides information for the northwest Michigan region comprised of Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford Counties.

The Benchmarks Northwest reports evaluate community well-being and livability by offering secondary data and public perception (survey) information that provides a snapshot of community strengths and challenges. The reports integrate environmental, economic, and social factors in a way that demonstrates the interconnectivity of issues impacting regional quality of life.

NWMCOG / EDA Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Northwest Michigan is the result of a local planning process designed to guide the economic growth of the region. It is produced yearly by the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce – Economic Development Administration (EDA).

According to the EDA, the CEDS must be the result of a continuing economic development planning process, developed with broad based and diverse community participation, and contain the following:

• An analysis of economic and community development problems and opportunities including incorporation of any relevant material or suggestions from other government sponsored or supported plans;
  
  
• Background and history of the economic development situation of the area covered, with a discussion of the economy, including as appropriate, geography, population, labor force, resources, and the environment;
  
  
• A discussion of community participation in the planning efforts;
  
  
• A section setting forth goals and objectives for taking advantage of the opportunities and solving the economic development problems of the area serviced;
  
  
• A plan of action, including suggested projects to implement objectives and goals set forth in the strategy; and performance measures that will be used to evaluate whether and to what extent goals and objectives have been or are being met.

Creating the 21st Century Workforce
This comprehensive plan, commissioned by Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Bureau of Workforce Programs, stresses collaboration among the many stakeholders of economic success in a community. Northwest Michigan Council of Governments convened several subregional and two regional focus groups to learn how workforce development, business development, and business retention and lay-off prevention services could be best integrated into their communities and practices. The plan was produced and submitted for review by all parties.

The plan for creating the 21st century workforce assess current regional conditions and identifies gaps and challenges in meeting the needs of current and future businesses. Plans for addresses those challenges are met through a unified, collaborative approach to business services, early intervention in business retention and lay-off prevention, preparing the workforce for the changing economy, and communicating the impacts of the plan.

Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Impact Study

TC Chamber Business & Education Series