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The Southwestern Alliance
CONNECTIONS
Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance and
the Berrien County Manufacturers' Council |
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June, 2009 - Volume 1, Issue 4 | |
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| Greetings! |
This month's newsletter should be called the "Information Issue". As I've had opportunities to visit with many of you and talk about your businesses, I've tried to really understand what kind of information would be interesting and actually useful to you. The following meetings have been chosen with you in mind - there will be more to come and I always appreciate your input regarding what we can arrange for your benefit. Please let me know of a particular speaker or topic that would be of interest to you and I will try to arrange it.
As of this publication date, a few details of some of the meetings are still being arranged - I included them however, to let you know they are coming soon. Thank you for your patience - please feel free to ask me any questions regarding these meetings.
Shelley Klug, Executive Director |
| June 11, 2009 |
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Dr. David Cole, Director of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, will give his expert opinion on the current state of the American Auto Industry. The automobile industry is on the brink of major changes that will have a significant effect on the Big Three, the industry's suppliers and the state of Michigan and its citizens. This presentation is being sponsored by the League of Women Voters as a public service. The meeting will be held at:
Corvette Central
13550 Three Oaks Road
Sawyer, Michigan 49125
June 11, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This presentation is open to the public - there is no charge. |
| June 25, 2009 |
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Managing Your Business Through the Economic Crisis - Some Legal Perspectives.
The Berrien County Manufacturers Council is hosting Mark Miller of Klute Miller Johnson who will answer timely and important questions you might have such as:
- What if my biggest client files bankruptcy?
- What can I do if I have Unsecured Creditor status?
There will also be valuable information presented on topics such as:
- Protecting Your Receivables
- Workforce Reductions
- Forebearance Agreements
All business owners and managers will want to hear this presentation. This meeting is open to Berrien County Manufacturers Council Members and Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance Members. Guests of members are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Shelley Klug at 269-683-1833. The meeting will be held at the:
Berrien County RESA Building
Berrien Springs, Michigan
June 25, 2009 at 8:00 a.m.
Continental breakfast provided.
Members - No Charge
Guests - $5.00 |
| July 13, 2009 |
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Buy Michigan First! Selling to the State of Michigan.
The State of Michigan has a contract portfolio of over $19 Billion. Do you know how to contract with the State? How to prepare a quality proposal? Buy Michigan First provides an outstanding opportunity for small businesses and vendors to learn more about selling to the State of Michigan and local government.
To register, please contact Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce (269) 278-8193. The seminar will be held at:
Dresser Business Development Center at Glen Oaks Community College
62249 Shimmel Road, Centreville, Michigan
July 13, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
This meeting is open to all and is free of charge. | |
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| July 2009 |
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Sharon Tyler, State Representative 78th District, will present the most up-to-date information regarding new legislative actions, the State Budget, and programs designed to encourage growth, retention, and attraction of businesses to Michigan. Details of this meeting will be announced as soon as they are finalized. |
| July 2009 |
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Financing, Financing, Financing... a topic on everybody's mind. The Berrien County Manufacturers Council will host a breakfast meeting in July with several experts from various organizations who will talk about a number of programs and how they could benefit companies with some of the financing issues we're struggling with today. Details of this meeting will be announced as soon as they are finalized. |
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August 19, 2009 |
Manufacturing Diversification Summit to be held at Southwestern Michigan College Campus in Dowagiac.
Economic and workforce development partners in the Southwest Michigan region are working together with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Keep Michigan Working to bring experts from four targeted and growing industry sectors to provide your manufacturing company with opportunities in the following high growth markets:
- Wind Energy
- Aerospace
- Defense and Homeland Security (Government contracting)
- Medical Devices
Presenters will provide information about:
- What it takes to thrive in a global economy by breaking into new in-demand markets
- The components of a diversification strategy
- The barriers to market entry (and how to overcome them)
- Your company's potential to adapt and flourish in the rapid and dramatically changing global 21st Century Economy
Participating companies will receive a thorough menu of services provided by a network of high quality contracted industry specialists. Companies that follow the diversification process may qualify for a $10,000 matching grant from the MEDC's Economic Development Job Training program to assist in their diversification process!
Mark your calendar for August 19, 2009 - more information regarding the times and cost will be available soon. Please call Shelley Klug at SMEGA for more information. |
| September 23, 2009 |
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Sell your products and services to the nation's largest consumer... the government!
The Berrien County Manufacturers Council will host Jan Campbell, director of the Southwest Michigan Regional Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), who will share how PTAC's electronic bid matching service can assist you with finding the right opportunity for government contracts. PTAC also provides one-on-one counseling, subcontracting assistance, procurement histories, and military government specifications as well as provide assistance in finding and downloading drawings. Almost all of PTACs services are free.
The government purchases billions of dollars in goods and services each year. Your company should take advantage of this enormous market - many Michigan companies already do!
This meeting is open to Berrien County Manufacturers Council Members and Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance Members. Guests of members are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Shelley Klug at 269-683-1833.
The meeting will be held September 23, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. Location to be announced. To learn more about PTAC, check out www.ptacsofmichigan.org. |
| Website of the Month |
In challenging economic times, many United States companies are going for export growth abroad. This month's featured markets are Libya and Algeria - two oil producing countries in North Africa. Check out Export.Gov, a site designed to help U.S. Companies Export: www.export.gov | |
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Shelley Klug, Executive Director
Southwestern Alliance
Phone: 269-683-1833
Fax: 269-683-7515
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