Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
The Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) takes a leadership role in Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga Counties--helping to expand and diversify the area's economic base in order to create family sustaining employment and to increase the economic well-being of our region.
KEDA designs and implements proactive, sustainable programs that are focused on retaining and expanding existing firms, starting up new businesses, attracting entrepreneurs and companies to the Keweenaw and initiating projects that create the conditions for future economic growth.
Event: KEDA's May Member Meeting Features FIRST Robotics Demonstrations
Wednesday, May 14th, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
KEDA's May member meeting will once again feature the FIRST Robotics program that teams local high school students with Michigan Tech engineering students to design and build robotics for national competition. FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology and is designed to encouage high school students' interest in science and technology. The meeting will feature FIRST teams from Calumet, Chassell and Houghton high schools who will describe the process of creating the robots and then demonstrate them. The meeting will be held at the Advanced Technology Development Complex on Sharon Avenue (across from the MTU softball fields), and will begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. The meeting will allow time for member announcements, and a continental breakfast will be served. Please contact Phil Musser at 482-6817 if you wish to bring a guest.
News: MTU Summer Youth Scholarships Needed for Local High School Students
Needed: Local companies and individuals to provide scholarships to local high school students to attend Michigan Tech's Summer Youth program. The Summer Youth Program encourages students to explore careers in a wide variety of degree programs. Students attend a week-long program and choose from over 75 exploration areas, ranging from engineering and sciences to the fine arts. A tax deductible donation of $625 allows a student to live in a residence hall during the week-long event, while a donation of $395 allows a student to commute to the MTU campus each day. Of course, donations in any amount are valued. Contact Karla Korpela at 906-487-2219 or kokorpel@mtu.edu.
News: Companies receive ExSEL Summer Interns
KEDA for the second year is partnering with Michigan Tech's Division of Educational Opportunity to offer paid summer interns to local companies. This year, four companies will receive interns: Endres Machining Innovations, Hawk Technologies, Northern Environmental and Tapset. The companies and interns are selected based on their mutual interests and skills, and the interns are paid through a grant from the State of Michigan King-Chavez-Parks Initiative. The interns will spend 280 hours with the companies, working on projects that provide the students with practical experience and the company with productive talent. The program is expected to continue in Summer, 2009.
Event: Upcoming MIOSHA Workshops
August 12th and September 23rd
Because of record attendance at KEDA's two Michigan Occupational Safety and Health (MIOSHA) workshops in January, MIOSHA is scheduling 3 additional health and safety workshops in 2008, all of which will count toward MIOSHA's health and safety certificate. A 1/2 day Ergonomics workshop will be held the morning of August 12th, followed by a 1/2 day Recordkeeping and Cost of Injuries workshop also on August 12th. Finally, a full day Lockout and Machine Guarding workshop is scheduled for September 23rd. All workshops will be held in the UPPCo building community room on the City of Houghton waterfront. Press releases and other notices will be released prior to the workshops. Or, you may contact Phil Musser at 906-482-6817 to register early. The 1/2 day workshops cost $60, and the full-day workshop costs $90 per attendee. KEDA members are given preference.
News: KEDA Welcomes New 2008 members
Pavia-Marting & Co. - Dennis Rich
Midwestern Guides - Mary Hunt
Credit Services, Inc. - Mary Turner
Keweenaw Scrap Tire & Metal - Keary Ecklund
Dale Carnegie Systems - Jon Walrath
ERICO Electric, Inc. - Rory Erickson
Copper Country Mall - Kevin Ericson
Stanton Township - Marv Heinonen
Master Engravers - Kevin and Keanna Olsen
Michigan Tech Alumni Relations - Brenda Rudiger
The Library Restaurant and Brew Pub - Jim Cortright
Vairo, Mechlin, Tomasi and Johnson - Dave Mechlin
Campioni Enterprises - Kim and Ben Campioni
Hetrick and Associates - Dale Koffman
Book Concern Printers - Jack Eberhard
Village of Lake Linden - Ed Fisher
Wickley Agency - Pete Wickley
Northern Auto, Inc. - John Ylitalo
Decorative Concrete Conversions - Micah Tober
News: REL Machine Wins Award Of Excellence from Operation Action UP
REL Machine of Calumet won an Award of Excellence for innovation and enterpreneurship at the Operation Action UP annual meeting in Marquette on January 18th. KEDA nominated REL Machine for the award and presented the award to Bob and Josh Loukus at the event. REL Machine has transformed itself from a machining job shop which began operation in 1990 to a high tech research and development and manufacturing company today. Starting out with 3 employees and two pieces of equipment, the company now employes 18 people and has quadrupled revenues since 2000. REL designs and builds customized, in-line, automated quality control equipment for the likes of Alcoa, the U.S. Coast Guard and other national customers, and has created an advanced materials research lab in which it conducts research using aluminum metal matrix composite materials and ceramics. Among other products, REL is the sole source supplier of an important component of insulation ttile patch kits for NASA, and its insulation product is on every shuttle space flight and on the International Space Station.
News: KEDA Announces 2007 Award Winners
KEDA has just announced its 2007 business award winners: GS Engineering is the 2007 Business of the Year, Consistacom is the 2007 New Business of the Year and Kim Stoker of the Western UP Planning and Developmen Region was awarded the Robert Graff/Friend of the Alliance award.
GS Engineering, which provides engineering design, prototype development and testing for military and private sector clients, has been one of the fastest growing technology companies in the Keweenaw and, in fact, has been recognized by Governor Granholm as one of the fastest growing companies in the State of Michgian. GSE has grown to 42 employees and will soon be "graduating" from the SmartZone business incubator into its own 14,000 square foot facility in the City of Houghton, creating 12 more jobs in the process.
Consistacom provides telephone switching software used by such companies as AOL, Delta Airlines, Dell Computer and others to do automatically what call center programmers would otherwise have to do manually. The company was started by Steve Fitzgerald, a Michigan Tech grad, and moved back to the Keweenaw in 1998 in order to access local software design talent. The company has grown to 10 employees and has quadrupled its revenues in the past few years. Consistacom is located in the SmartZone's Portage building business incubator in Hancock.
Kim Stoker has brought into the Keweenaw region over $8 million of grant monies in support of important economic development projects such as the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge expansion and renovation, the Scott Hotel renovation, the construction of GS Engineering's new facility, in addition to grant monies for renovaltion and expansion of the SmartZone's two business incubators and Michigan Tech's business incubator. These grant monies have, in turn, leveraged another $8 million in private investment, and have created many new jobs in the community.
News: New Website Lists Professional Jobs Available in the Keweenaw
KEDA and local businesses have partnered to create a new website, the Keweenaw Professional Job Board, that lists professional jobs available in Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon counties. Professional jobs are defined as those requiring at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. The web site address is www.KeweenawProfessionalJobs.com.
Glen Simula, President of GS Engineering and President of KEDA, stated the idea for the web site came from discussions among Chief Executive Officers of local companies who have been experiencing difficulty in recruiting professional level employees both locally and from outside the Keweenaw. According to Simula, "The number of Keweenaw companies needing to recruit professional talent has increased dramatically during the past few years because of the growth of manufacturing, technology and service companies."
"Many local people, including Michigan Tech and Finlandia University students, who have left the area to find employment, would return if they could find a professional level job in the Keweenaw," stated Simula. "Other professionals who may not be familiar with the Keweenaw but who are searching for a great job in a place offering exceptional outdoor recreation will find this web site of interest. The Keweenaw Professional Job Board will be a one-stop web site for local employers to list professional jobs and for professional level employees to find them." added Simula.
The Keweenaw Professional Job Board web site will allow employers in the 4-county area to list professional jobs, accept resumes and manage the employee recruitment process. Professionals seeking jobs can easily search available jobs, view recently filled positions and register to automatically receive job listing updates. The Keweenaw Professional Job Board is sponsored by GS Engineering, Monte Consulting, Peninsula Copper Industries, pettibone/Traverse Lift, Somero Enterprises, Terex Handlers, ThermoAnalytics, Up and Running and KEDA. For more information, contact Phil Musser, KEDA Executive Director, at 482-6817.
News: USDA Announces Renewable Energy Grants and Loans for Small Rural Businesses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently announced the availability of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency grants and guaranteed loans for small business in rural areas. The grants and loans can be used to conduct energy audits, feasibility studies and to purchase energy efficient equipment or construct energy efficient facilities. For more information, go to www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs and click on Farm Bill 9006 resources. Or, contact KEDA for a summary sheet describing eligibility and types of projects.
News: SWH Consulting Receives KEDA Micro Loan
Founded in 2001, SWH Corporation has received a $4,800 micro loan to purchase computer equipment to allow the company to take on additional clients that it had previously been unable to serve. The company subsequently hired two new employees. Located in the SmartZone's Portage building incubator, SWH is a custom software solution provider and has designed software solutions for such clients as R.W. Baird Investment Corporation, GE Medical, Affinity Incorporated, Runzheimer International, Baxter/Cardinal Healthcare, the U.S. Department of Defense and others. SWH is an entrepreneurial technology company that has significant potential for additional growth.
News: KEDA's Micro Loan Fund Provides Loan to Wood Floor Specialties, LLC
Begun in late October, KEDA's Micro Loan Fund has just made its second loan in late December to Wood Floor Specialties LLC (WFS) of Centennial Heights. WFS has been a one-person floor installation and refinishing business, but had an excellent word-of-mouth reputation, a 6-month backlog of work and older, inefficient equipment. KEDA provided a $13,700, 3-year fixed rate loan at 8.25% for the purchase of new floor refinishing equipment and a trailer to haul the equipment to worksites. As a result of the loan, WFS has been able to hire a full-time apprentice that, together, with the new equipment, will allow the compny to complete jobs more easily and quickly, to take on more complicated, higher priced jobs and to generate additional revenue. KEDA was able to complete the loan very quickly at a cost of only $15 to the borrower. The owner, Bernie Kamyszek, can be contacted at 906-370-2299.
News: Peninsula Powder Coating Receives Governor's Award
Peninsula Powder Coating (PPC) of Baraga, a KEDA member, has just been selected as one of Governor Granholm's 50 Michigan Companies to Watch, an annual award given to the 50 fastest growing, second stage companies in the state. Powder coating is a form of painting that provides a tough, durable paint finish to metal, glass, and thermosetting moldings. PPC began operations in January, 2004 with only two employees, and has since grown to 24 employees. The company has twice enpanded its plant size to its current 34,000 square feet and has recently purchased new equipment to allow it to meet customer demand. Brian Baccus, the owner, is an example of how a motivated entrepreneur with limited funds and unlimited enthusiasm can start up and grow a successful business in the Keweenaw Peninsula. KEDA is proud to have nominated PPC for this prestigious award and to have him as a member. PPC will receive its award at the annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards dinner in Lansing on April 12th.
News: KEDA Creates Micro Loan Fund to Finance Business Start-ups
Entrepreneurship has always been strong in the Keweenaw, and small businesses started by local entrepreneurs have created the majority of new jobs in the region. While KEDA's regular Revolving Loan Fund provides loans of $15,000 - $80,000 to more established businesses to allow them to expand, beginning entrepreneurs and single-person businesses often have difficulty accessing smaller loans through lending instututions or traditional revolving loan funds due to the cost and effort of providing smaller loans.
To meet this need, KEDA has created a Micro Loan fund to provide loans of $1,000 to $15,000 to beginning entrepreneurs and small companies that have the potential to provide living wages to the owners and that may also have the potential to create new jobs for Keweenaw residents. Virtually any type of business is eligible to apply for the loans, and applicants will be provided business counseling as necessary to ensure the business idea is financially feasible and that the entrepreneur has the skills and support system to be successful. Loans can be used for purchasing equipment or inventory, and for working capital and other needs. Contact Phil Musser, KEDA Executive Director, at 906-482-6817 or at pmusser@kedabiz.com for more information or to apply.
News: Great Lakes Angels Offers Online Capital Application
Great Lakes Angels (GLA), a consortium of private, high wealth investors (known as angels) who help fund early stage companies, has announced an online system to encourage private investments into start-up companies, including companies in the Keweenaw. The group's new Angelsoft platform makes it easy for entrepreneurs to apply for funding, and gives accredited investors a comprehensive set of tools for analyzing new opportunities. Angelsoft offers enterpreneurs the tools to develop streamlined, one-page descriptions of their businesses for submission to GLA investors, and then delivers that information plus an Executive Summary and Business Plan over the internet directly into the group's deal management system. Every angel member of GLA has a special computer program that is automatically updated as business plans arrive, making every plan visible to every investor for 90 days. The system is already in use by more than 60 other angel groups around the country. GLA is a non-profit organization that fosters private, early stage investment int he states of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, as well as the Canadian province of Ontario. The GLA Director, David Weaver, is a member of the SmartZone Board of Directors, and periodically offers workshops on angel investing to both entrepreneurs and investors. More information is available at www.glangels.org or www.angelsoft.net.
News: Doing Business With Michigan
In order to do business with the State of Michigan, visit the state's procurement website: www.michigan.gov/doingbusiness. It takes about 10 minutes to register and you will need your tax ID number and contact information. Your company can find an opportunity either through Acquisition Services (contracts valued at $25,000 or more) or through Agency Buyers (contracts valued at less than $25,000). For more information, call the Michigan Department of Management and Budget, Acquisition Services, at 517-335-0230, or the Procurement Technical Assistance Center of Michigan (PTAC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to assist Michigan businesses to obtain and perform on federal, state and local government contracts. Contact PTAX by calling 1-800-692-7774.
News: Long-Term, Fixed Asset Financing Available Through SBA 504 Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers up to 40% of project costs at below market rates for fixed assets (real estate, buildings, equipment). Total project costs must be at least $200,000 up to $10 million, and the borrower must be a small business with a net worth less than $7.5 million and average net profit less than$2.5 million for the past two years. The Michigan Certified Development Corporation packages these funds in the form of debentures that are sold in the market place. A bank loans 50% of project costs and the borrower provides 10% equity which does not necessarily need be cash. The 504 funds are provided at a fixed rate for 20 years for real estate and 10 years for equipment. Read a longer description of this financing program by clicking on "finmechs" in the pull down menu in the upper left corner of this page, then scroll down to "Federal Financial Assistance." Contact Phil Musser for more information.