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The Southwestern Alliance
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Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance ~ Berrien County Manufacturers Council |
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October 12, 2009 - Volume 1, Issue 11 | |
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| Greetings! |
Much of the information in the Southwestern Alliance newsletter has been about upcoming meetings and training opportunities. While we believe this is valuable information, we are also looking for reasons to brag about our great corner of the country:
There have been a number of ribbon-cuttings in Niles and Buchanan lately as well as big anniversaries of companies who started small, have grown, and are still going strong.
We've had some good news from some of our schools with increased enrollments and increased achievements.
We're also happy to welcome home a wounded soldier who is rapidly recovering and whose attitude and commitment makes us proud.
This is a great place to live, a great place to do business, a great place to raise a family, and a great place to express yourself. Make sure you read the last article in this edition to get information on our new "Celebrity Series" - we're going to prove our point!
And, remember to send us your good news - we're being read by over 900 subscribers!
Shelley Klug |
Small Business Resource Series
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Two of our partners, the Four Flags (Niles) Chamber of Commerce and Lake Michigan College-Bertrand Crossing Campus have
put together a series of six sessions of various business topics: "The Small Business Resource Series".
This series focuses on
timely issues important to small business owners,
such as
- Energy efficiency (Save money!)
- Disaster preparedness (Worried about loss?)
- Insurance basics (How do insurance companies rate you?)
- Websites (Staying updated)
- Social media (Maximize your marketing)
- Cyber-security (Protect your company)
All classes will be held at the Bertrand
Crossing Campus, located at 1905 Foundation Drive, Niles. This
is a special opportunity for members to get training and information from
business professionals at a cost of only $10 per class or $50 for the
six-session series. The first class is
this Friday (October 16, 2009) and you must pre-register by calling: 800-252-1562 ext. 2991.
For more information and a complete list of classes, please go to:
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| Financing Information |
| Financing! This October 29, 2009 luncheon meeting will feature three speakers presenting information designed for business owners and local commercial loan officers and financing specialists. The information will be specific and direct with examples of how the programs have benefited others in situations that may be similar to yours. Mike Flanagan will discuss Michigan's Capital Access Program (CAP) and Eric Hanna will explain a relatively new program - Michigan Supplier Diversification Fund.
Lisa Epple will discuss the USDA Rural Development's Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program. There have been some recent ARRA enhancements and new information including eligible areas, eligible projects, and the state funding goal of $57 million of Guaranteed ARRA Funds. This meeting is sponsored by the Berrien County Manufacturers Council and is open to all. The meeting will be held October 29, 2009 at noon.
The luncheon is $10 per person for members and their staff, ($15 for non-members) and will be held at the Berrien County RESA Building located in Berrien Springs at 711 St. Joseph Avenue (formerly known as the ISD building).
Please RSVP to Shelley Klug at 269-683-1833 or smega1@sbcglobal.net by October 26, 2009.
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Tea Time with Tfactor
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For businesses in southwest Michigan this is a unique, interactive, customized "speed networking" style
presentation consisting of:
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10 specific topic areas of your choosing
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Selected from 6 critical business areas
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Presenting 100 tips, techniques, tactics, trends and
tools
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Delivered in 100 minutes
This fun and fast-paced event is designed to:
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Introduce complex topics and fresh ideas
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Define or summarize broad concepts
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Build a foundation for exploration and discussion
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Pique interest in future in-depth learning opportunities
We would like you to Choose Your Top Ten! Rank your
favorite topics, choosing from 25 topics in six categories - it's quick (I did mine in less than 1 minute) and easy -
just click on this link:
Important: Survey closes October 30 to allow presenters time to analyze the results.
The actual meeting topics will be based on the survey
results - weigh in and determine the subject!
Your opinion about which of these issues are important
will also help determine future meeting topics in 2010.
Sponsored by the Berrien County Manufacturers Council, there
is no fee for this meeting and it is open to BCMC and SMEGA members, guests,
and those interested in learning how to maximize their business.
November 18, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Berrien Springs Public Library
Please RSVP by November 13 by calling Shelley Klug at 269-683-1833. |
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November 4, 2009 |
Back by popular demand! The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) will be holding a series of ten free half-day seminars for employers about the state's unemployment program at various locales around the state in October and November. The seminars explain to employers Michigan's UI tax and benefit programs as well as recent changes at the agency. Seminar topics include: How UI benefits are paid and charged to employer UI accounts; New online UIA services for employers; How UIA calculates employer UI tax rates; and How to appeal an agency determination. In addition, there will be two breakout sessions - one on UI benefits and the other on UI taxes. Each session starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. The seminar closest to the SMEGA area is in Kalamazoo on November 4, 2009. (Kalamazoo OPD Training Center, 322 Stockbridge Avenue).
To register for any of the seminar sessions, employers can obtain a registration form at the UIA website ( www.michigan.gov/uia). Employers with questions about the seminar can call the agency's Employer Customer Relations staff at 1-800-638-3994. | |
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October Website - Launching the Southwest Michigan Celebrity Series!
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As announced earlier, the Website of the Month is the new Southwestern Alliance website. This new site provides access (through a single portal) to the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance and the Berrien County Manufacturers Council under the heading - Southwestern Alliance. In addition to supplying important business information to site selection consultants and local partners, the Southwestern Alliance website is also dedicated to promoting the outstanding lifestyle available in southwest Michigan. There will always be photos of beautiful scenery (you are invited to submit yours for publication), announcements of training opportunities and community events, and special features. We just launched a multi-media/social-media series of famous people, places, and things called - The Southwest Michigan Celebrity Series. This area has been the birthplace of many stars in the different worlds of sports, music, innovation, business, and art. We're proving the point that our area's competitive edge comes from the incredibly talented people who live here! For the first great example, check out the link to our City of Niles page below and, if you have speakers on your computer, turn them on. (Here's a hint - Tommy James and the....?)
The Southwestern Alliance Home Page:
Direct Link to the Berrien County Manufacturers Council Home Page
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Shelley Klug, Executive Director
Southwestern Alliance
Phone: 269-683-1833
Fax: 269-683-7515
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