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MINDING OUR OWN BUSINESS June 21, 2003 by Linda Hirvonen Delta County Economic Development Alliance 10th Anniversary of the Economic Development Alliance What a party it was! For months, preparations were made to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Delta County Economic Development Alliance (EDA), and the day finally arrived this past Wednesday, June 18th. Plans had not included the rain that fell, but it didn’t last long, and it definitely did not dampen the enthusiasm of an estimated 1,000 guests, exhibitors, EDA board members and friends who attended the gala picnic party. The Economic Development Alliance was formed a decade ago out of a recommendation from “Celebrate Escanaba,” a goal-setting exercise sponsored by the City of Escanaba. The first priority which it identified was to create a single source of contact for business and industry in Delta County. As someone who was in it from the ground up, I recall well the first organizational meeting held in the old Chamber conference room, so packed that people were sitting on window-sills…so filled with optimism that there was hardly a blank space on the committee sign-up sheets. Within months the first director was hired, and the work began. The Information Gathering Committee collected data about our community. Leaving no stone unturned, they gathered demographic, historical, industrial, environmental and social data. Out of this they developed the Delta County Economic Profile, a resource which has been constantly updated and is in use to this day. The Information Dissemination Committee took responsibility for getting the word out. Committee members reviewed stacks of journals and promotion pieces from other communities to see how it was done. Believing that Delta County needed a unique, fresh approach, they decided that audio-visual images were more compelling than print media. Their end product was a video entitled “Come Grow with Us,” starring Brian Wood, Crystal Dwyer, Pete Denman and Ken Stichman. [It is now out of date, but still fun to see what has remained the same and what progress has been made in less than ten years.] As part of the development of the video, a logo had to be designed. You know the old saying about a giraffe being an animal designed by a committee. That was the first EDA logo—with a tree representing our woods industry, a gear representing manufacturing, an outline of the UP and the slogan “Come Grow with Us.” It has since been replaced by a professionally designed symbol of our mature organization. The Industry Action Committee looked at the financial aspect of business retention, expansion and recruitment. Made up of members of the business and banking community, their work turned out to be the practical end of the EDA, negotiating directly and indirectly with the businesses that made up the employment base of Delta County. So why the party? The creation of the EDA was not without its doubters and critics. Some elected officials even claimed that “Economic development is hog-wash.” Others said, “I support the concept but I can’t see putting any money into it.” But those who believed persevered. Support came from the efforts of positive thinking area businesses and industry, utilities and governmental units. Ten years of progress has been the result. That’s definitely worth celebrating! Not only that, the celebration itself was underwritten by its sponsors who donated products and made cash contributions to cover its expenses. Director Linda Hirvonen been at the helm for half of those ten years and in that time she has become a major force in the economic development of the area. How do I know? My office and hers are next door to each other. I see the visitors—from local, state and federal government officials to ordinary folks wanting to know how to start a business. Linda makes time for all of them. I hear Linda counseling novice entrepreneurs about the importance of a business plan and how to develop one. I see them carrying printed material out of her office which will assist them in determining if their dream can realistically become reality. I watch as she schedules appointments with them to follow up and to provide them with one-on-one mentoring so important to the new business owner. Site visits are another key feature of her services. Often accompanied by members of her board or city managers or Cathi Cole, UP Account Manager, Michigan Economic Development Coirporation, she spends time with the existing businesses of this community. She knows that it is far easier to keep an existing business than to attract a new one, and her visits pin point strengths and weaknesses, as well as eliciting what can be done to make each of them more productive. In the process, Linda identified a need that had not been met—that of newcomers not feeling welcomed into the community. Out of that concern arose the Newcomers Club which continues to provide a social setting for new people to get to know each other and their community. Linda represents Delta County at all major events and city or county committee meetings. She was instrumental in creating the UP Economic Development Alliance, a network of people in positions like hers who believe that if it is good for the UP, it is good for all of us. The group pools resources for UP-wide promotion and recruitment and is represented on the state EDA. Linda worked tirelessly on the Renaissance Zone grant and the revision when it was resubmitted and successfully awarded to Delta County. We in Delta County can now compete with the other Ren Zones in the state which provide tax-free development opportunities. Hats off to you, Linda and your EDA board. Whether we have benefited directly or indirectly, you have made Delta County a better place for all of us. Congratulations on your first 10 years and may there be many more! Come Grow with Us in Delta County! Linda A Hirvonen, Executive Director Delta County Economic Development Alliance 230 Ludington Street Escanaba MI 49829 (906) 786-2192 or fax (906) 786-8830 |
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