Since it’s appropriate to do that in our personal lives, why not our professional lives as well.

Late in November, I compiled the EDC’s annual report for 2006 and it gave me the perfect opportunity to reflect.  I was happy to see progress in our county in a number of areas.

Compiling data based on the 80-plus calls the EDC made on businesses over the past year, it was encouraging to see existing manufacturers created over 400 new jobs and invested over $40 million in equipment and building improvements. To assist in this process the EDC was involved in 13 tax abatement application, training grants for local companies from the state’s Economic Development Job Training funds and Michigan Works Incumbent Worker funds, and grants for infrastructure improvements through the state’s Community Development Block Grant.  We also funded six different Brownfield assessment projects with our County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority grant.

Five new companies chose to begin operations in the county this year and several existing companies grew their current locations by consolidating other business here.

Looking ahead, the EDC would like to further assist industry by stimulating the creation of an Angel Investment Network as a financing alternative.  We also plan to look for a 200-plus acre pre-certified industrial site in the County, which will be infrastructure-ready for large projects looking to locate in our area.

My board has made it a top agenda item to continue working with local and regional partners to improve U.S. 131 to a limited access highway from the state line up past Schoolcraft.