| Greetings!
Please take a moment to review these updates from the UPWard Initiative.
Thanks to the many UPWard members along with others that have provided content for these updates. If you have information you would like to share with the group, please email it to me. Holly Peoples
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Natural Resources
November Food Summits
The U.P. Food Exchange presents "Together at the Table: Recipes for a Sustainable Local Food System."
All who eat are invited to attend the summit in their region. Please join us for speakers, exhibits, local food lunch, and more!
Save the date for the local food summit in your region.
Western U.P.
Tuesday, November 5th - Houghton
Central U.P.
Wednesday, November 6th - Marquette
Eastern U.P.
Thursday, November 7th - Sault Ste. Marie
Location and times TBA. Summit agenda and registration will be available in early September.
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Higher Education
Is Michigan Tech for Me? Community College Students Get an Inside Look at University
Rolando Bocanegra never pictured himself attending a four-year university. "There was always a fear factor when it came to thinking about a major college," he said. As a current student at Grand Rapids Community College, "thinking bigger just made me feel overwhelmed."
That's exactly the type of common stumbling block the Michigan College and University Partnership/Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (MICUP/MI-LSAMP) helps community college students overcome. The MICUP/MI-LSAMP program, coordinated by Michigan Technological University's Center for Diversity and Inclusion, offers low-income, first-generation and underrepresented minority community college students a summer research internship-and a first-hand experience of what life at a four-year institution is really like.
Once students see how well they fit in, many transfer to Michigan Tech. "About 50 to 65 percent of our participants end up coming to Tech after they take part in MICUP/MI-LSAMP," said Karyn Detmer, MICUP coordinator.
The program, which recently wrapped up its 13th year at Tech, partners with Delta College, Grand Rapids Community College and the Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD). Students from these three community colleges apply to spend seven weeks at Tech, where they take a class and work on a research project, usually with a faculty member.
"The credit they get at Tech transfers back to their home college for their degree, or it can be applied toward a degree at Tech if they make the switch," said Detmer. "They get to see what courses are like here and the kinds of resources available to student researchers at a four-year school."
And the best part? Tuition, room and board are covered for the summer, and participants even get a $2,500 stipend. more->
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Natural Resources
August 13th Meeting Between Senator Stabenow and Farmers
Join U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow for UP Food Forum.
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow invites local food leaders and producers from across the UP to meet with her on Tuesday, August 13th to discuss important food initiatives in the Farm Bill, and her efforts as Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to boost economic growth, support agriculture, and increase access to more locally-grown, healthy food choices for families. She would like to hear from local leaders and producers who are working on food initiatives in the UP.
The meeting will begin at 1:15 pm in the Charcoal Room on the 2nd floor of the University Center Building at Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave in Marquette.
To attend, please RSVP to RSVP@Stabenow.senate.gov or call 906-228-8756 and provide your name, organization and number of people attending.
The Senate overwhelmingly passed Chairwoman Stabenow's Farm Bill, which strengthens Michigan agriculture and supports farmers' markets and local food hubs across our state and throughout the country. Join us for this unique opportunity to hear from Senator Stabenow and share our UP experiences and successes.
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Talent Supply and Demand
The Upper Great Lakes Talent Summit
September 20, 2013 - Harris, Michigan
This year's Summit will further explore and develop the regional collaboration needed to create connections that will result in continued economic growth.
The event continues on a local level the work that began at Governor Snyder's statewide economic development and education summits in March and April.
The Summit will provide an opportunity to weigh in on the areas of focus resulting from discussions at, and following Governor Snyder's summits.
Key Topics Include:
- Future Talent Demands
- Talent Acquisition Challenges
- Connecting Employers to the Talent Development and Education Communities
Join this year's event and provide input for our region's
Talent and Economic Development solutions.
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Higher Education
LSSU clears final legislative hurdle for new business building
Soo Evening News
Sault Ste. Marie - Lake Superior State University's long talked about refurbishment of historic South Hall for its School of Business has cleared its final legislative hurdle and is on track to opening for students in spring 2015.
The $12 million construction project was approved by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder earlier this month, with the state providing $9 million of the total cost and LSSU securing private donations for the remaining $3 million.
"We now have full approval for the state's share of the funding for the renovation of South Hall, and we expect to start the project on our original timeline," LSSU President Tony McLain told the university's board of trustees during its meeting on campus today. "This was the only state building authority-financed construction that was approved this year, and it will be the university's first major capital project in more than 10 years."
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring semester 2014 and conclude the following spring. It includes two components. The first is renovation of the existing 32,000 sq. ft. building with original portions dating back to the early 1900s.
The renovation will include much needed infrastructure upgrades, as well as classroom and office renovations. The project will include an addition of approximately 12,000 sq. ft. to connect the building's original two wings and form an atrium that creates an interactive commons with an expanded café, new program rooms, and support space. more->
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Higher Education
Northern Michigan Student Spends Week in NASA Program
Detroit Free Press
MARQUETTE, MICH. - A Northern Michigan University student was among 35 undergraduates who spent a week at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The Mining Journal of Marquette reports that elementary education major Kristen Bustrak of Brule, Wis., was among the students last month participating in the space program's Pre-Service Teacher Institute. Astronauts and rocket scientists show future teachers in the institute how to integrate NASA's work into school lessons on science, technology engineering and mathematics.
Bustrak will take what she learned to the classroom next semester when she begins student teaching in Green Bay, Wis.
And as a bonus, Bustrak says she became certified to handle moon rocks, so she'll be able to borrow lunar and meteorite samples from NASA and bring them to the classroom. more->
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Tourism
Italian heritage celebrated in Iron Mountain on Aug. 17
Seventh annual Italian Fest features food, drinks, games and competitions
The Daily News
IRON MOUNTAIN - Paying tribute to the strong Italian heritage that still remains in Iron Mountain, the seventh annual Italian Fest will return to the area on Saturday, Aug. 17, sponsored by the Iron Mountain Main Street program.
The festival is held from noon to 11 p.m. in the parking lot located at the intersection of East A and Iron Mountain streets. Food, drinks, musical entertainment and other activities are being lined up for the day with Tom Gursky serving again as the master of ceremonies.
The cost to attend Italian Fest is $5, with the proceeds going to support efforts to improve the community, noted Jonathan Ringel, manager of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA)/Main Street program.
In addition, people participating in the Tour de Dickinson bike ride on Aug. 17 and children, ages 12 and under, will be admitted free of charge to Italian Fest.
Food vendors have been lined up to participate in the event and include Alley Dog Hotdogs, Antonio's Pizza, Crispigna's, Hillcrest Catering and Northside Noodle. The event also includes wine, beer and other local and Italian beverages, which are available all day under the beer tent.
"Due to the success in 2012, we will once again be accepting credit cards at Italian Fest," noted volunteer Jinx Brew.
Other activities include a bocce ball court, as well as an Italian Market, which will have Italian merchandise for purchase. "People can learn how to play bocce and for the more experienced players, they can compete," Ringel noted.
Children's inflatable bounce houses and games are also a part of the day from noon to 8 p.m. and are provided by Abracadabra and the Abundant Life Church.
A full schedule of entertainment is lined up starting with an opening ceremony at noon with Ralph Izzo singing "God Bless America" in both English and Italian. The Bill Hassey Orchestra will be providing entertainment from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. more->
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Business Growth and Development
CUPPAD, Mich. Works! Partner
Collaboration will improve efficiency
The Daily Press
ESCANABA - A recently-increased collaborative effort between the Central Upper Peninsula Planning And Development Regional Commission and Michigan Works! The Job Force Board is expected to improve efficiency, according to local officials.
The collaboration is not a full merger of the two parties, according to former CUPPAD executive director Lloyd Matthes, whose position was recently eliminated after being offered an employee buyout. Instead, he said some of the ancillary services, such as typing and other functions, will be done at Michigan Works!, which already handles CUPPAD's bookkeeping.
"The reason is simply a cost-saving factor," said Matthes. "It's trying to be as careful with our money as possible. The governor has been pushing these collaborations for about a year now. We've been looking at it for almost a year or two years."
He said through the reorganization of CUPPAD, most people won't notice a change.
"Basically, this is about providing good service and being cost-effective," reiterated Matthes. "I have a fabulous staff here. They're very capable, very knowledgeable about what they are doing."
Joel Schultz, Upper Peninsula regional director for the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center works with Michigan Works! on strategic alignment with organizations.
"Our relationship started when CUPPAD's CFO took a different position and rather than hire a new CFO, we contracted with them and provided some of those services for them," explained Schultz, who noted collaborations such as the one with CUPPAD are nothing new. About 15 to 20 other organizations share similar collaborative relationships with them.
"The reasoning behind any collaboration is to find a synergy between the organizations to best deliver their mission," he said, noting the parties share similar overall goals and are looking for ways to share resources. This could mean sharing administrative support or office space, for example, said Schultz. more->
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