The Southwestern Alliance

CONNECTIONS 
  
   Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance and
the Berrien County Manufacturers' Council

July, 2009 - Volume 1, Issue 5

In This Issue
Buy Michigan First!
Sharon Tyler, State Representative
Manufacturing Diversification Summit
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Website of the Month
Join Our Mailing List!
Greetings! 
With summer in full swing, many of you are taking well-deserved vacations and getting some much needed rest and relaxation.  If you are in town however, please note the meetings below which may be of interest and value to you.  We are trying to schedule one meeting per month with presenters who are willing to share real information with you - not just a sales pitch for their organization.  While you may find the organization to be one you will want to contact in the future, the point is to bring new information to you that will help you build your business. 
 
The June meeting featured Mark Miller of Klute Miller Johnson.  Mr. Miller presented very pertinent and specific information about dealing with a major client's bankruptcy and ways to protect your business.   Please review the meetings for the next three months below and I hope to see you soon.
 
Shelley Klug, Executive Director
July 13, 2009
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.
July  24, 2009
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.  This meeting is for members of the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance and the Berrien County Manufacturers Council.  The meeting includes a continental breakfast ($10) and will be held July 24, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. at the Orchard Hills Country Club on Niles-Buchanan Road.  Please RSVP to Shelley Klug (269-683-1833) by July 21.
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 30, 2009
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 30, 2009 at 8:00 a.m.  Location to be announced.  To learn more about PTAC, check out www.ptacsofmichigan.org.
Website of the Month
I love a double-whammy of positive news.  One of our local companies, "workingperson.com" was picked for the Internet Retailer Top 500 for the third year in a row.  Part of that success is attributed to the AVID team, (A Buchanan Business) supplying properietary technologies, online marketing expertise, and strategic consulting since 2005.
 
 

If you have good news or a helpful website to share - please call 683-1833.
Shelley Klug, Executive Director
Southwestern Alliance
Phone: 269-683-1833
Fax:     269-683-7515