Help Shape Michigan's Economic Future!

Sponsorship Opportunities Available and Registration Coming Soon!

We hope you will join us on Friday, May 17th at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls for the 2024 Northern Lakes Economic Symposium and Showcase. This year’s Symposium will focus on innovation—or the act of introducing new products, methods, and ways of thinking—to build on Northern Michigan’s economic success. Our region boasts a rich history of innovation.

We’ve witnessed innovation across communities and across industries, from agriculture, to manufacturing, healthcare, outdoor recreation, and tourism. Join 300+ Northern Lower Michigan business and community leaders and state and federal officials to answer the question: how can our businesses

and communities continue to foster innovation for our region’s success now and into the future?

Sponsorship opportunities are now available! Please visit our website for details or view our sponsorship opportunities here. Please reach out to Sam Bailey at sam@northernlakes.net to secure your sponsorship.

Stay tuned for registration and more details on speakers and session topics.

Sam Bailey Leads Thrive 45’s March Cultivate event

Thrive 45 is excited to host its first quarter Cultivate event in partnership with the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) and MSU Extension! The event will be led by Sam Bailey who is the NLEA's Strategic Initiatives Manager and an MSU Extension educator.

The first part of the program will be an interactive presentation which will provide an overview of economic development, delve into regional economic trends, describe the NLEA, and explain what it takes for communities to be successful. Then, attendees will participate in an activity that places them in a hypothetical community struggling with a development project and challenges them to chart the best path forward. This session is ideal for anyone interested in local economics or learning how they can play a role in shaping their community.

This event will take place on Thursday, March 14^th from 9:00am to 11:00am at the Odawa Hotel in Petoskey.

Stay tuned as we will include an update when registration details are finalized.

Latest Choose The North Interview:

Ben Doornbos

Introducing Ben Doornbos, Nub's Nob general manager. Ben relocated to the North alongside his wife, aiming to be closer to her family and job. Fortunately, their move also brought them to an area where Ben could indulge in his passion for skiing.

Discover Ben's story, what makes Nub’s unique, and why he continues to Choose the North!

2024 MEDC Business Survey:

Your Opinion is Needed!

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is conducting a critical survey to better understand the challenges and needs of small businesses throughout Michigan, especially in rural areas. If you have a second-stage small business with ten or more employees, please consider taking the survey or sharing this information with applicable businesses.

The survey responses will inform the MEDC on strategies and programs to better serve our state’s entrepreneurs. The survey only takes 5 minutes to complete and will remain open through the end of February.

Your support is needed! Please click the button below to take the survey.

Take the Survey Now

Value Added Producer Grant

The Value-Added Producer Grant program through the USDA helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.

Priority is given to farms or ranches that are beginning, socially-disadvantaged, structured as a family farm, or structured as a cooperative. Farms or ranches that are proposing a mid-tier value chain are also a priority.

For more information on this grant and specifics about eligibility, visit the website below.

See Grant Details