Grand Rapids Business Journal
Jamiel Robinson
CATEGORY: Economic Development
WINNERS: Guillermo Cisneros and Jamiel Robinson for The Right Place, Mike Ramirez and Holly Johnson for Lakeshore Advantage
ORGANIZATIONS: The Right Place and Lakeshore Advantage
The region’s two foremost economic development agencies, The Right Place and Lakeshore Advantage, leveraged community leaders’ input in 2020 to administer state and federal funding to hundreds of small businesses to help them survive the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fallout.
The Michigan Strategic Fund, through the federal CARES Act and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), made available a total of $100 million in grant funds to eligible small businesses and nonprofits in Michigan through the Small Business Restart program, and The Right Place and Lakeshore Advantage were in charge of awarding a combined 1,488 grants totaling over $12.3 million across 13 counties in October 2020.
Harbor Springs High School boasts a state-of-art, 400-seat performing arts center, on left. About 20 miles east, Inland Lakes Schools uses a middle school gym, right, for the same purpose. Folding chairs are added for seating. (Bridge photos by John Russell)
Breezing north up I-75 – just 30 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge – it s easy to miss the Indian River exit sign.
Except for the Cross in the Woods, a nearby 55-foot redwood crucifix that draws the occasional tourist, and snowmobile trails that pull in a few more, this sparsely settled region is a place where economic survival can be day to day.
9 & 10 News
December 14, 2020
Rotary Charities and the Frey Foundation will award Housing North with two grants.
Together, they total $275,000.
Housing North serves northwest Michigan creating housing solutions for communities.
They say all types of housing are in demand right now with the most coming from working families.
“This money will be used to help put people on the ground in the communities to get development projects and housing projects ready for developers to come in and also work with the communities to facilitate different ways that housing can happen. So housing north is really the communicator and the facilitator to help bring partners together,” said Yarrow Brown, Executive Director.
Wednesday skiing
GAYLORD â Otsego Resort offers Bump Day deals every Wednesday from 3:30-8:30 p.m. during ski season. Lift tickets, rentals, tubing, pizza and burgers/beer are $10 each. The 2020-21 season is expected to open Dec. 11, depending on weather conditions. More details: 989-732-5181.
Tree lighting
INTERLOCHEN â Interlochen Chamber of Commerce hosts âLighting Up Interlochenâ at 5 p.m. Dec. 11 at Tomâs Food Markets. Santa Claus lights a 20-foot pixel tree, and Green Lake Township EMS staff distribute prepackaged treats at Interlochen Public Library. The light and sound shows occur every half hour from 5-9:30 p.m. through Jan. 1.
Santa visit