New Partnership Announced by Baraga County Economic Development Corporation
Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette
Baraga County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced a groundbreaking new partnership with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). This collaboration establishes the first true public-private-tribal partnership in Baraga County, marking an important milestone in the region’s economic development.
“This collaborative effort establishes the first true public-private-tribal partnership in Baraga County, and we look forward to working and growing together with the KBIC,” said EDC Treasurer Ethan Johnson.
Jennifer Misegan, the KBIC’s assistant CEO and also an EDC board member, played a key role in facilitating talks between the two organizations.
Mary Myers, director of business development for the EDC, stated, “This partnership has been in discussion for two years, focusing on providing assistance for the services that the KBIC needs. We have worked to build a framework that is beneficial for both organizations.”
The partnership involves a $10,000 contract that will offer a range of services to new and existing businesses. Myers explained, “The services provided will support businesses from startup to succession planning, and will particularly focus on helping tribal businesses with entrepreneurship.”
EDC Services and Success Stories
During the annual update, consultant Amy Clickner highlighted some of the services offered by the EDC. These include labor market analysis, wage studies, and Zoom Prospector, which lists available properties and buildings in the county, providing detailed information about utilities and infrastructure.
The EDC has also been successful in obtaining state grant funding, particularly beneficial during the challenging times of the COVID era. Recent grants have supported a manufacturing company in purchasing equipment and provided over $120,000 in assistance to 26 local companies through the Michigan Economic Development Corp’s Restart Grants.
Over the past five years, the EDC’s client services have resulted in $11.525 million in investment and the creation of 732 new jobs, contributing to the economic growth of Baraga County.
Addressing Challenges for Baraga County
Looking ahead, Baraga County faces similar struggles to other counties, including childcare, housing, and talent. Myers emphasized the interconnectedness of these challenges, stating, “I don’t think that the talent issues will be addressed until the housing is addressed and childcare is addressed. So we’ve really been working on those.”
The EDC is actively involved in lining up assistance through state programs to address these challenges. For example, they were instrumental in helping the Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region secure a $50,000 grant to establish a non-profit community development corporation in the L’Anse area. This grant will also support the preparation of a township-owned tract of land for housing development in collaboration with L’Anse Township and the Village of L’Anse.
The content of the article has been rewritten and organized with relevant headlines and emphasized words. The information remains the same, focusing on the announcement of the new partnership between Baraga County Economic Development Corporation and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. It also highlights the services provided by the EDC and their success stories, as well as the challenges faced by Baraga County and the efforts being made to address them.