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Testimony — Alliance Overview, Northern Michigan Businesses (Bennett, Devitt, Germain, Martin)

Summary

An Alliance Overview headed "One Size Does Not Fit All," whose stated mission is to advocate for the needs and amplify the voice of 8,000 northern Michigan businesses. It lists policy priorities (regionally driven economic development, talent and rural prosperity) and says that in its first year the Rural Readiness Grant Program has brought an additional $22.2 million to rural communities throughout Michigan. It also reports $32m invested in 25 projects under Revitalization and Placemaking Grants and lists employer-assisted housing examples. The closing page names Haley Bennett, Director of Government Relations, Nikki Devitt, Chair, Christopher Germain, Vice Chair, and Christopher Martin, Executive Director, Develop Iosco.

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Cite this document

“Testimony — Alliance Overview, Northern Michigan Businesses (Bennett, Devitt, Germain, Martin).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-03-20-testimony-christopher-martin-haley-bennett-christopher-germ-77f475c353/, SHA-256 89363434339dec995c07db02f84b2ca3c5596232d77736c756976c08244316cf.

Full text

ALLIANCE OVERVIEW
    “One Size Does Not Fit All"
MISSION
To advocate for the needs and amplify the
voice of 8,000 northern Michigan
businesses.


VISION
Northern Michigan is a competitive and
prosperous business environment.

                     Elevating & advancing local business | 2
ALLIANCE PARTNERS
POLICY PRIORITIES

    Regionally Driven
    Economic Development


    Talent



    Rural Prosperity


              Elevating & advancing local business | 4
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

             • Encourage public/private
               partnerships in rural communities

             • Focus on local, small-scale
               investments over larger projects

             • Tourism’s role in economic
               competitiveness



                                    Elevating & advancing local business | 5
WORKFORCE & TALENT
       • Childcare & affordable housing are
         the biggest barriers to attracting and
         retaining talent

       • Population decline and aging
         workforce

       • Local Solutions
          • Going Pro Talent Fund
          • Childcare Back Office
          • Tri Share
                                Elevating & advancing local business | 6
                   RURAL READINESS GRANTS
In its first year, the Rural Readiness Grant Program has brought an additional $22.2 million to rural
communities throughout Michigan - an additional $12 for every dollar spent.


                                       • Projects focus on business development,
                                         broadband expansion, housing, workforce
                                         training, and health

                                       • Regional Success Stories
                                           •   The Marquette County Land Bank
                                           •   Interlochen Center For the Arts
                                           •   Develop Iosco
                                           •   City of Petoskey

                                                                              Elevating & advancing local business | 7
REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANTS

              • $32m invested in 25 projects throughout
                northern Michigan and the U.P.
                 • Heavily focused on housing, blight removal,
                   and outdoor recreation

              • Regional success stories
                 • Downtown Negaunee enhancement
                 • Discovery Pier project, Traverse City
                 • Blight removal in Marquette




                                               Elevating & advancing local business | 8
EMPLOYER-ASSISTED HOUSING

          Northern Michigan businesses have been
          early adopters
            •   Short’s Brewing, Bellaire
            •   Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville
            •   Cotton Collection, Petoskey
            •   Manthei Group
            •   Cherry Republic, Leelanau County




                                     Elevating & advancing local business | 9
INVESTING IN RURAL MICHIGAN = HIGH
      RETURN ON INVESTMENT

         Strategic, community-driven investments yield stronger,
                   more sustainable economic growth.



  Funding should be allocated at the regional level for maximum impact.



            Rural Michigan is an untapped economic driver –
                state support will unlock its full potential.

                                                                Elevating & advancing local business | 10
Haley Bennett, Director of Government Relations
haley.bennett@traverseconnect.com


Nikki Devitt, Chair
President/CEO, Petoskey Regional Chamber
nikki@petoskeychamber.com


Christopher Germain, Vice Chair
President/CEO, Lake Superior Community Partnership
cgermain@marquette.org


Christopher Martin
Executive Director, Develop Iosco
executivedirector@developiosco.org                   Elevating & advancing local business | 11

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