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OCEA Executive Director Receives Chamber Award
Jeff Ratcliffe
(Photo Courtesy of Gaylord Herald Times)
Jeff Ratcliffe, Executive Director of the Otsego County Economic Alliance recently received the Chairman's Award at the Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet. This award is presented to a member of the chamber who exhibits a commitment to his or her business and the community. The recipient is chosen by the outgoing chamber board chairman. In presenting the award Todd Gregory expressed that Ratcliffe had played an instrumental part in a large number of infrastructure projects, including the I-75 crossover and the expansion and location of a number of companies to the area.
Kim Roney, owner of Diana's Delights, was the recipient of the Gordon G. Everett Memorial Bell Tower Award. This award recognizes new construction and/or renovation projects that best exemplify investment in Otsego County, while maintaining the Alpine spirit and theme. In her acceptance of the award, Roney thanked Ratcliffe of the Alliance and recognized him for his work and invaluable assistance with her project.
Waste Water Treatment Plant Project Progressing
Work began last fall and continues on improvements to the City of Gaylord Waste Water Treatment Plant. The project includes replacement of existing oxidation ditch covers, construction of a dewatering structure, control system updates, HVAC equipment replacement, as well as replacement of some equipment including pumps, aerators, and laboratory equipment.
This spring work will commence on the City's north elevated water storage tank. Improvements will include exterior and interior painting, a cathodic protection system, new expansion joints and valve replacements, as well as safety improvements including a handrail and painters ring.
OCEA assisted with securing CDBG funds in the amount of $705,800 in 2010 to assist with $990,300 in improvements to the waste water treatment plant and the north water tower.
 
Oxidation Ditch Rotors Sludge Drying Bed Wall
Construction
Precast Concrete Planks Over
Oxidation Ditches
Gaylord Pavillion to be Upgraded for Extended Seasonal Use
The Gaylord DDA has received a $170,000 grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) as part of a $201,000 upgrade to equip the Pavillion on Court Avenue with canvas sides and infrared heating units, extending the seasonal usage of the Pavillion.
The upgrade will include canvas panels on electric-powered spools which can be lowered during windy, rainy or cold days. Also, gas-powered infrared heating units will be mounted along the inside pavillion roof edge to direct heat downward.
The Pavillion provides a focal point for many downtown community activities including the Farmers' Market, Antiques Market, Alpenfest, Community Concerts and Oktoberfest activities. With the improvements, the Farmers' Market will be able to open in April and be extended through the month of November when many local vendors still have products for sale, allowing our vendors to increase their income and offer more products. Other activities will benefit by not being hindered or canceled by inclement weather, encouraging and increasing participation in downtown events and activities.
The project is expected to be completed in 2011. The Otsego County Economic Alliance, working with the DDA, packaged the project for MEDC financing and is providing project management and grant administration.
City of Gaylord Facade Improvement Project Completed
The second round of facade improvements in downtown Gaylord was completed in 2010. Seven buildings participated in the $687,999 improvement project. Facade improvement funds came from a $350,000 Community Development Block Grant from the MEDC, $55,020 from the DDA for architectural work and $63,037 cash contributed by building owners. Buildings included in the project are home to Diana's Delights, Tools to Teach, Main Street Shoes, Real Estate One, Gilling Chiropractic, Ben Franklin's, and Dan Webster's.
The OCEA, working with the city DDA, packaged the project for CDBG financing and provided project management and grant administration. The OCEA and DDA are currently working to package a third round of improvements for at least nine more buildings.
 
Tools To Teach & Diana's Delights 252 West Main Street
Diana's Delights
Elmer's Crane and Dozer Brownfield Project Completed
Elmer's Crane and Dozer has completed their newest facility on Milbocker Road in Gaylord. The 36 acre property, formerly the Gaylord landfill and a recognized Brownfield site, has a new life in part thanks to a $492,550 Clean Michigan Initiative Brownfiled Redevelopment Loan awarded to the Otsego County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (OCBRA) by the Michigan Department Of Environmental Quality.
The OCBRA applied for the loan in the fall of 2008 in order to fund the up-front cost of a environmental assessment and remediation activities needed in order for Elmer's to purchase the property without being liable for the prior contamination. OCBRA work included a Phase I and II environmental assessment, Baseline Environmental Assessment report, Due Care Plan as well as some remediation activities to accomodate infrastructure and other uses. Elmer's will repay the loan through the payment of their annual property taxes.
Development of the site included site grading, construction of roadways, access drives and work areas, stormwater improvements, installation of sanitary sewer and water utilities, landscaping improvements, a parking lot and office building.
The project will provide 15 new heavy construction jobs and $1,300,000 in private investment, The OCEA, working with Otsego County, established the OCBRA in 2005 and serves as the Authority's project manager.
 
Brownfield Site Before Brownfield Site After
News From Northern Initiatives
SBA Micro Loan Program
Northern Initiatives, an affiliate of Northern Michigan University and one of the leading Community Development Financial Institutions in the Midwest, has recently received approval from the SBA office in Washington to become the intermediary for the SBA micro loan program in the additional counties that they serve including Charlevoix, Antrim, Otsego, Crawford, Roscommon, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Wexford, Benzie, Manistee, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. They will now have access to this program in 31 counties in the Lower Peninsula and all counties in the UP.
This program is aimed toward providing micro loans up to $50,000 to small businesses that cannot get conventional financing. In addition to loans, the program offers access to appropriate technical assistance.
Visit their website at www.northerninitiatives.com to apply online for a small business loan and receive a response in two business days.
Profit Mastery Workshop Coming To Our Area
Northern Initiatives will be hosting a Profit Mastery workshop in our area in April/May with the date to be determined. The 16 hours of instruction, broken down into four four-hour sessions, is $425 and includes case study practice and 400-page participant's guide. The Profit Mastery program is designed to assist small business owners and managers to better understand financial management and increase their chances of success in today's difficult economic times.
The workshop, titled Profit Mastery: Creating Value and Building Wealth, addresses the greatest knowledge gap for business owners - finance. Research shows the number one reason for business failure is poor cash flow management. The internationally acclaimed Profit Mastery Program is designed to demystify business finance and provide tools and a process to manage the key drivers of both profits and cash flow.
This is a valuable opportunity for those whose decisions have an impact on your company's financial performance. Business owners and managers, controllers and CFOs, entrepreneurs will benefit from this workshop.
Watch the Northern Initiatives website for registration information.
Small Business Development News
Small Business Assistance Provided
The Small Business and Technology Development Centers of Michigan (SBTDC), the SBA and Michigan Economic Development Corporation funded small business assistance program, provided assistance to 74 clients in Otsego County, resulting in nine business start-ups. SBTDC assisted companies created 29 new jobs, retained 18 jobs and had new investment of $1.421 million.
To access small business assistance, contact Jeff Ratcliffe at the OCEA or Bruce Goldammer at goldammerb@nemcworks.org.
Toyota Kata at the MTEC at Kirtland Gaylord
Learn about the latest global best practice for leadership, Toyota Kata, the next generation of leadership coaching for innovation and continuous improvement. Join your business peers at the Northern Michigan Lean Learning Consortium event on Friday, March 11, held at the MTEC at Kirtland Gaylord. Here you will be introduced to Toyota Kata, a proven leadership process that works in all types and at all levels of organizations.
Pre-registration is required since seating is limited, to register via credit card or check, contact Adam Dwyer at 231-995-2211 or adwyer@nmc.edu. There is a $10 registration fee for non-consortium members, which includes a hot breakfast. This event is free to Lean Learning Consortium members.
Everyone can benefit from Toyota Kata. Speaker Beth Carrington will share her 25 years of experience as a Lean trainer and consultant, more recently teaching and consulting in Toyota Kata with author Mike Rother, whose books include: Toyota Kata: Managing People for Improvement, Adaptiveness and Superior Results; Learning to See: Value Stream Mapping to Add Value and Eliminate MUDA; and Creating Continuous Flow: An Action Guide for Managers, Engineers & Production Associates.
This event is hosted by Northwestern Michigan College and the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center in partnership with MTEC at Kirtland Gaylord.
New Tax Credits Available For Michigan Startup Investors
A new 25 percent state Small Business Investment Tax Credit, designed to encourage investments in start-up and early-stage Michigan technology companies, is aiming to help Michigan entrepreneurs secure capital and reduce risks associated with a new business or novel technology.
"Michigan's growing technology culture can only get stronger with this incentive to foster new investment in our homegrown tech businesses," said Michael A. Finney, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. "Michigan is a powerhouse of often overlooked innovators and new technology entrepreneurs, who, along with their employees, will now have a new tool to assist their business expansion plans."
The angel credit program allows qualified investors to receive a 25 percent personal tax credit on their investments in qualified Michigan-based seed- and early-stage companies with a pre-investment valuation of less than $10 million. Prior approval by the Michgian Strategic Fund is required to qualify businesses and investment groups.
Individuals will have 60 days after making an investment, alongside or through a qualified investment group, to apply for their credit.
Among several qualification criteria, state law requires a minimum investment of $20,000 be made through or alongside an MSF-registered investment group and before Jan. 1, 2013. Individual investors are limited to a maximum tax credit of $250,000 in any one year and may not claim more than this amount in any one business. No more than $250,000 in credits may be awarded to investors in any one company, and the total amount of credits certified by the Michigan Strategic Fund cannot exceed $9 million per calendar year.
"Michigan's new angel tax credits mean we should expect the number of angel groups and deals to double over the next few years," said Mina Sooch, vice chairman and past chairman of the Michigan Venture Capital Association. "Additional capital for young companies can attract executive talent back to Michigan and help build a critical mass of talent and deals that are essential to a robust entrepreneurial economy that creates new industries and jobs here."
Complete details and registration requirements are available by phone, toll-free (888) 522-0103, or e-mail to SBITC@michigan.org or online, http://www.michiganadvantage.org/SBITC.
Governor Snyder's Budget Presentation
Michigan's reinvention begins in earnest with Governor Snyder's fiscal years 2012 and 2013 executive budget recommendations. Of interest to those doing business in Michigan is the Governor's plan for tax restructuring which includes eliminating tax credit programs and exemptions and initiating in their place a new corporate tax rate, a fair and easier to understand corporate tax structure. For details go to The State of Michigan Executive Budget.
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