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MINDING OUR OWN BUSINESS January 14, 2004 by Linda Hirvonen Delta County Economic Development Alliance GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR As we enter the New Year, it seems an appropriate time to recap what the EDA is and what our goals are for 2004. The EDA’s overall goal is to facilitate economic growth and job creation in Delta County. Top priority is to “support expansion and retention of existing Delta County businesses” We accomplish this through visits with key area businesses; use of the UP Business Barometer, a web-based data system that has been implemented throughout the UP and has built-in analysis features; working with other UP communities to foster growth/development- for instance, the 2003 UP wide Link Michigan project which will continue in 2004, and continued offerings of workshops like our Uppertunities Series. One of our most used services is to help people search for the right location for their business or expansion. Our second priority is to “increase community awareness and support for economic development activities.” A community must want and be prepared for growth in order to generate it. The EDA keeps in contact with and works cooperatively with most municipal and economic development groups. We keep up-to-date demographic information, maintain media presence like these articles, speak to service groups, started and serve as a resource for such community groups as the Newcomers Club, the Economic Club, and most recently with several other community partners, the Delta Force Leadership Academy. I regularly report in person to groups like the Chamber board, Gladstone’s EDC board, the M-TEC Advisory board; and via written monthly reports to elected officials and funding supporters. Another way we view the community is the state, and we represent Delta County and the UP at many regional and state-wide economic development functions. Third priority is “attraction of new business to the area.” A lot of people think that this is the center of economic development, but a little research will reveal that it is not very cost effective to do cold sales of communities. Rural areas like ours simply do not have the means to launch an effective campaign. We do, however, have the ability to ensure systems are in place for responding quickly and effectively to leads. We do work with the community to make sure we’re prepared for prospects and can turn around their needs to land the deal. We do have the means to cooperatively advertise our community with other UP.EDA members. We do participate in state-sponsored Site Consultant Programs each year, and have developed relationships with professional site consultants. In addition, we do things like keeping the airport viable, getting a Renaissance Zone, developing Brownfield Authorities and so forth to best capture any incentives we might offer to businesses locating here. Keeping up-to-date on available commercial properties is also a key element in our ability to react quickly to leads from outside the community. Our fourth priority is to “support workforce development.” A community must have a prepared workforce. This means working with schools and with business. This means serving on boards like the Jobforce Board and the MTEC Advisory. This means addressing school groups and asking about current and future workforce needs at the site visits mentioned in our first priority and sharing them with the training entities. It also means making sure businesses know of avenues and assistance in meeting their training needs. We also work with groups like the Jobforce Board and the Chamber to create the demographic information people need to made decisions about our community. Much of this information is not available from the state for a number of reasons. Finally, the EDA must spend some time staying in business. We are partially supported by annual contributions of the City of Gladstone, City of Escanaba and Delta County. But the rest of our operations and programs are funded through private donations. The EDA is a 501 (c) (3) organization, so donations can be tax deductible. We operate on an annual budget that averages in the mid-sixty-thousands. In 2003 our total expenditures for the year were $67,179.80. This is about 1/3 of the average budget for a Michigan community of between 29,000 and 49,000 people. And yet we outperformed the rest of the UP in job growth over the past ten years, and outperformed the state in job growth percentages by business sector during the same period (except creation of government jobs). This recap gives people some idea of a few of the reasons we do things if not all the actual activities. Look for the details in a month or two after December numbers are available. This is when we can complete our annual report. For a copy of 2002 annual report, please call me at 786-2192. A paperweight I saw recently says, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Let’s get Delta County prepared to be the community we wish to see in the future. 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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