Media Mentions
Director Planned Out of Office
Thurs & Fri, November 4th & 5th - Michigan Downtown Association Annual Conference - Detroit
Destination Creation Course Train the Trainer Update
Lindsey Dotson Receives Certification to Lead Destination Creation Course to Help Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Details/Next Steps:
To host a Destination Creation Course class, either online or in person over the course of 8 weeks, we get charged $149 per registrant. The regular pricing for a business to take the course is $399. We can charge anything we want to, and even set up promo codes that give special pricing to local businesses. It would be nice to incorporate this training into our annual training for businesses at the Library. Knowing that it could possibly have a regional draw means that it could possibly be profitable for our organization.
So far, the following businesses have indicated interest in registering for the course:
- The Clothing Company
- Cherry Republic
- Harwood Gold
- Bentley Hill Bakehouse
SBEI Round Two
Still waiting to finalize dates for 2nd community visit but they are trying to come back in October.
Downtown Dollars Updates
Charlevoix Downtown Dollars E-Gift Card Merchant Training Meeting Recording:
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/8c4QeR8RGWy4ocixYJUA2Y19QyoqLMZD0i2CYqtAKw_q5LSLLSh-bhMfoEHsfUP-.u-Zt1qfjDGlb2rxm
We are now up to 31 participating businesses! https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/charlevoix-main-street
| Date Redeemed |
Amount |
Store Name |
| 2021-09-22 21:39:37 UTC |
50 |
Stafford's Weathervane Restaurant |
| 2021-07-13 21:02:26 UTC |
4.24 |
The Lake House |
| 2021-07-13 20:55:16 UTC |
10.59 |
Central Drug Store |
| 2021-07-13 20:53:15 UTC |
7.41 |
Central Drug Store |
| 2021-07-13 20:35:23 UTC |
9.53 |
Graffitees |
| 2021-07-13 20:34:30 UTC |
9.53 |
Graffitees |
Junior Main Street
This past week we kicked off the 6th year of Junior Main Street in Mrs. Conway's AP Government class! Member Dreyer and Director Dotson will return this week to continue discussion and visioning sessions with the students.
Shared Community Event Calendar Update
FINALLY - Locable, the company the Chamber, CVB, and DDA have been working with since our partnership agreement action items were laid out nearly two years ago, has finally been able to create the ability for us to filter our calendars depending on which type of events we want displayed on our sites. We've been using the calendar for a while but it will now function the way we had hoped it would when we started this process long ago.
PMBC + CD Regional Small Business Support Program
Project Overview: Roles & Responsibilities + Timeline
Summary: Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) and Community Development (CD) have partnered on an initiative to provide growth opportunities to small businesses looking for support to start or scale operations, in geographically targeted areas across the state. The Regional Small Business Support Program aims to provide customized support services to small businesses delivered through third party consultants/service providers and other state-wide or regional partners. A focus industry may be identified through research by the CD Community Assistance Team (CAT), and both industry and/or region considerations should be informed by the MEDC Strategic Plan.
Northern Michigan Outdoor Recreation Support
Program Objectives:
1. Support state and local efforts to grow outdoor recreation as a regionally important industry that will play a vital role in energizing the west Michigan community.
2. Encourage expanded business opportunities in a geographically disadvantaged area, when applicable.
3. Provide assistance to communities for continued revitalization through economic growth and job creation.
4. Prepare early-stage suppliers to be “Buyer-Ready Businesses” and prepare growth-stage suppliers for market expansion.
More program information is attached for your info. Myself alongside Chamber President Van Horn are a part of this regional assistance team.
New NLEA Pitch Competitions
NLEA AWARDS NATIVE BUSINESS OWNERS AT FIRST INNOVATION ALLIANCE EVENT
The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) has introduced a new program that provides space for entrepreneurs to grow ideas and access capital. This first event was for indigipreneurs in the region looking to pitch their start-up or growth idea for a chance to receive funding.
The event also provides connections within the NLEA business, resource and financing networks as well as access to early-stage funding and the potential to meet other inventors and investors. The seven Native Business Owners were connected that night with representatives from the SBDC, MSU Extension, Northern Shores NCDFI and Lake Superior NCDFI. Their network will grow by working with both Arrowhead Incubator and the NLEA for business support.
The awardees on September 8 include: Aurora B Lounge, LLC of Indian River, Autumn Eve Creations of Alanson, Creative Graphics by Eva of Harbor Springs, Fade Did of Petoskey, Superior Board Company of Kewadin, Two Women Beading of Petoskey and Watercolor Artist Russ LaLonde of Cheboygan. Financial support for the Northern Lakes Innovation Alliance is provided by the DTE Foundation and Consumers Energy.
Future Innovation Alliance events are planned. NLEA is looking for Innovators in the Industries of Value-Added Agriculture, Tech, Outdoor Recreation, Manufacturing, Recycle/Upcycle and Research & Development. Businesses or individuals looking for support and networking opportunities to bring a concept to life and who live or work the NLEA region of Antrim, Charlevoix and Cheboygan counties are invited to register online at northernlakes.net/innovation-alliance. Registrants will be invited to join the program and schedule a date to meet and discuss their business idea.