Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance

The Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) takes a leadership role in Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga Counties--helping to expand and diversify the area's economic base in order to create family sustaining employment and to increase the economic well-being of the Keweenaw Peninsula region.

KEDA designs and implements proactive, sustainable programs that are focused on retaining and expanding existing firms, starting up new businesses, attracting entrepreneurs and companies to the Keweenaw and initiating projects that create the conditions for future economic growth.

Event: June 13, 2012 KEDA Member Meeting: The Continental Fire Company - Honoring Local History to Create the Keweenaw's Newest, Boldest & Upbeat Entertainment Venue

Wednesday, June 13th from 7:30 am to 8:30 am

The June member meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 13th at the Continental Fire Company in downtown Houghton, 408 E. Montezuma. A hot breakfast sponsored by The Continental Fire Company will be available beginning at 7:15 a.m., and the meeting will begin promptly at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting will feature a presentation by owner John Julien, who will talk about the beginnings of the building as the Continental Fire Company in 1883 and later in 1885 as the first classroom of the Michigan School of Mining, now Michigan Technological University. The owners preserved as much of the building as possible, including some of the original floors, in creating a dynamic entertainment facility.

Members are encouraged to bring guests. The meeting will begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. and last for one hour. There is time for member announcements, and for networking both before and after the meeting.

This will be the last monthly member meeting before the summer break. Meetings will resume on September 12th at the Finnish American Heritage Center in downtown Hancock.

For more information, contact Phil Musser, KEDA Executive Director, at 906-482-6817 or pmusser@kedabiz.com.

EVENT: Workshop on Doing Business with Prime Military Contractors, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armament Command (TACOM) and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC)

Thursday, June 7th, 12:30 pm to 5 p.m., Michigan Tech's Memorial Union Building.

This is a unique opportunity to meet with private sector contractors and the primary military procurement representatives to explore military contracting opportunities for your company. This event is co-sponsored by KEDA and is free, but seating is limited so register early by contacting Don Makowski of the Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at 906-789-0558 x244 or donmakowski@nwm.cog.mi.us

EVENT: MIOSHA 1/2 Day Workshop: Job Safety Analysis Made Easy

Thursday, June 14, 2012 from 8:00 am to 12:30 p.m., Lakeshore Center, Houghton, MI

This Occupational Safety and Health workshop is designed for all businesses and institutions and will cover the following:

What a Job Safety Analysis is and the purpose
Basic skills in the recognition and control of occupational hazards
Job Safety Analysis techniques, and creating a simple and effective Job Safety Analysis system
Identifying how to use a Job Safety Analysis within Safety and Health Systems

For more information and to register, contact Phil Musser at 906-482-6817 or pmusse@kedabiz.com.

News: KEDA Creates Keweenaw Air Service Task Force

KEDA has taken the lead in creating a Keweenaw Air Service Task Force to monitor air service to the business and overall Keweenaw community, and to proactively support the Houghton County Memorial Airport to improve service and to increase the number of flights serving the Keweenaw. Eric Peterson, a former member of the City of Houghton City Council and a frequent flyer, has agreed to Chair the Task Force. The 20-member Task Force is being formed in recognition of the importance of air service to local companies and to economic developmennt of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The Task Force meets every few months to review air service developments and to identify initiatives to improve our local air service. Most recently, the Task Force met with a SkyWest Airlines representative to discuss such issues as increased air service, decreasing passanger leakage to other airports, alternate landing site in the event of inclement weather and other issues. Comments and concerns regarding air service can be addressed to either Eric Peterson at epeterson@medassets.com or by contacting KEDA Executive Director Phil Musser at 906-482-6817 or pmusser@kedabiz.com.

Federal Procurement Represents a Huge Potential Market for Local Companies

Federal procurement represents a huge potential market for local company products. Some Keweenaw companies have had success in selling their goods and services to federal agencies, including the U.S. military, but many local companies have not yet entered this market due to the difficulty and complexity of the process and to the lack of personnel to devote to procurement. There is now help! KEDA is providing Elizabeth Tolsdorf, who has expertise in federal procurement, with the resources to start up a consulting business, Superior Research Services, that can work with your business to:

Determine if state or federal government are buying your products and services
Register with those state and federal agencies procuring your goods and services
Monitor daily solicitations and notifying you of possible bids
Interpret solicitation documents
Help to submit bids, quotes and proposals
Set up payment procedures, and
Conduct market research to identify non-government markets, potential customers and competitors

Elizabeth can work with your business on an hourly, per job or retainer basis. To explore the possibility of getting into government procurement, contact her at etolsdorf@charter.net or 906-337-0365. SRS is a KEDA-affiliated company; KEDA members receive a discount.

You are also encouraged to attend government procurement workshops sponsored by the Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) serving the Upper Peninsula, and to arrnange a visit by the UP PTAC representative, Don Makowski. Contact Don at 906-789-0558 x 244 or via e-mail at dmakowski@jobforce.org. The next procurement workshop is:

For a complete listing of PTAC seminars, go to www.nwm.org/ptac.asp. For more information on federal contracting, contact Don Makowski at 906-789-0558 or at dmakowski@jobforce.org.

News: Federal Recovery Act Assistance for Small Businesses

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has created a new web site to provide information on the Federal Recovery Act. to find the provisions that apply to small businesses, go to www.MichiganAdvantage.org/Recovery and click on "ARRA Program Information And Updates," then click on ""ARRA Information for Businesses." You will find information on:

5-Year carryback provision to increase tax refunds for small businesses
Write off up to $250,000 of investment
Reduced Estimated tax payments
Extension of bonus depreciation deductions
Incentives for investors to put money in small businesses

For more information, call the MEDC Assistance Center at 517-373-9808.

News: USDA Announces Renewable Energy Grants and Loans for Small Rural Businesses

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently announced the availability of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency grants and guaranteed loans for small business in rural areas. The grants and loans can be used to conduct energy audits, feasibility studies and to purchase energy efficient equipment or construct energy efficient facilities. For more information, go to www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs and click on Farm Bill 9006 resources. Or, contact KEDA for a summary sheet describing eligibility and types of projects.

News: Long-Term, Fixed Asset Financing Available Through SBA 504 Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers up to 40% of project costs at below market rates for fixed assets (real estate, buildings, equipment). Total project costs must be at least $200,000 up to $10 million, and the borrower must be a small business with a net worth less than $7.5 million and average net profit less than$2.5 million for the past two years. The Michigan Certified Development Corporation packages these funds in the form of debentures that are sold in the market place. A bank loans 50% of project costs and the borrower provides 10% equity which does not necessarily need be cash. The 504 funds are provided at a fixed rate for 20 years for real estate and 10 years for equipment. Read a longer description of this financing program by clicking on "finmechs" in the pull down menu in the upper left corner of this page, then scroll down to "Federal Financial Assistance." Contact Phil Musser for more information.

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