Traverse City : Innovation + Job News

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority has lit the green light for Cherry Republic to move forward on its multi-use brownfield redevelopment project.

The project, which will support the construction of a retail outlet, a food production facility and new residential spaces in Traverse City, will require the demolition of two buildings before the five-story mixed-use building can be erected.

The Cherry Republic building is a benefit for the company and for the community, the authority says.

"This new Cherry Republic facility consolidates their production, retail and administrative operations and brings the company’s high quality jobs into the center of downtown Traverse City," says Michael Finney, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "As we transition from our previous tax credit programs into the Michigan Business Development and Michigan Community Revitalization programs, we will continue to seek to help Michigan companies with amendments to prior agreements as real world business changes arise."

The Grand Traverse Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will use captured local and school tax valued at $2,264,085 for the project. The Cherry Republic Center will include administrative offices, a primary retail outlet and food production facility for Cherry Republic products. The plan may also include up to 13 residential units with underground parking. The project is expected to create up to 30 permanent full-time jobs, with a total capital investment of approximately $13 million.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Michael Finney, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

There's no doubt that the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is considered one of the best in the country, drawing in entries from across the country.

Northwest Michigan was well represented with four wineries being awarded medals for Rieslings and other wines ranging from dry to sweet.

One of the standout performances was by Blackstar Farms, which netted a double gold, a gold and a bronze for its wines. Also winning medals with their local wines were Chateau Grand Traverse, Forty-Five North and Chateau Fontaine.

The 2010 Arcturos Late Harvest Riesling earned a double gold from the judges while the 2010 Arcturos Riesling was a gold medal winner. Taking a bronze was the Sirius Red Dessert Wine.

"It’s always an honor to be recognized for the quality of our region," says Lee Lutes, head winemaker for Blackstar. "2010 was certainly an exemplary vintage showcasing many of the best attributes of Riesling growing in this climate. These medals will further raise the standards by which we continue to create our wines."

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Lee Lutes, Blackstar Farms

Energy efficiency and renewable energy projects are important, especially for agricultural producers and rural small businesses that need to cut costs in any way possible.

That's why the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that it is seeking applications to provide assistance to those two groups for funding for a variety of efficiency and renewable energy projects.

"Renewable energy development presents an enormous economic opportunity for rural America,” says Tom Vilsack, the agriculture secretary. "This funding will assist rural farmers, ranchers and business owners to build renewable energy projects, providing opportunities for new technologies, create green jobs and help America become more energy self-sufficient."  

The Rural Energy for America Program was created to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption. For 2012, USDA has approximately $25.4 million available to fund the program, which will support at least $12.5 million in grants and approximately $48.5 million in guaranteed loan program level awards.  

The USDA is accepting the following applications:

• renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until March 30, 2012;  

• renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only applications on a continuous basis up to June 29;

• renewable energy system feasibility study applications through March 30; and

• energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications through Feb. 21.  

More information on how to apply for funding is available in the Jan. 20 Federal Register, pages 2948-2954.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Tom Vilsack, USDA

If you ask Fox News and CareerBuilder.com, the company that is making a lot of noise in the hiring department is Comfort Keepers, which has two regional locations in Northwest Michigan.

Fox News, during its morning show, Fox and Friends, named Comfort Keepers as one of the top five companies in the country hiring in 2012. CareerBuilder.com named the company as one of the top 10 currently hiring in terms of numbers of job listings postings in September last year.

That's because, nation-wide, Comfort Keepers posted 2,100 jobs for new caregiver positions, and they're still growing. The local offices in Traverse City and Petoskey expect to hire at least 100 employees this year to fill open positions for homemakers, companions, drivers, personal care aides and nursing positions.

"We attribute the growth of our employee base to the immediate need of our services,” says Leslie Knopp, local owner. "Most people say they want to age at home. In-home care is a growing industry that will only show more demand as baby boomers look for someone to care for their parents and eventually, to care for themselves."

Founded in Springfield, Ohio and now with over 600 franchised locations around the country and more than 13 years of service, Comfort Keepers has earned the reputation of being a leading provider of in-home care for seniors and other adults. Approximately 25,000 caregivers and office employees work at the independently owned and operated offices in the U.S.

"We have developed a winning formula for recruiting people and that is one more reason we continue to grow," said Knopp. “We look for people who have a heart for serving others, we provide some of the best training in the industry, and we retain them because the work is rewarding and schedules are flexible."

Individuals interested in applying for a position at their local Comfort Keepers office can visit the Comfort Keepers employment center.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Leslie Knopp, Comfort Keepers

The Michigan Brewers Guild had its annual meeting at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire in earlier this month, and announced some new leadership on the guild's board.

We were glad to see the guild up here in Northwest Michigan, as we've certainly got some tasty local brews to offer. Hopefully they used them to toast these newly elected or re-elected board members, who each will serve a two-year term.

Our local representative on the board is Scott Newman-Bale, VP of Short's Brewing Company in Bellaire, who was elected to a second term on the board, and another year as treasurer.

Eric Briggeman, brewmaster at Rochester Mills Beer Co. in Rochester, begins a fourth term on the board, and a fifth year as guild president. Steve Berthal, brewmaster and partner at The Livery in Benton Harbor, was elected to a third term on the board. Isaac Hartman of New Holland Brewing Co. will serve a second term on the board, and Greg Burke, brewmaster at Woodward Avenue Brewers in metro Detroit, will serve a second term on the board and continue to serve as secretary.

The Michigan Brewers Guild is celebrating its fifteenth year this year, and represents 89 member breweries in the state, a number that just keeps growing. They put on four annual festivals, including the Winter Beer Festival in February in Grand Rapids, the Summer Beer Festival in July in Ypsilanti, the U.P. Fall Beer Festival in September and the Detroit Fall Beer Festival in October.

Maybe we can get them to add one in Northwest Michigan in the years to come. Now that would be a good time!

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Michigan Brewers Guild

The Homestead resort in Glen Arbor named Sallie Krepps its Associate of the Year. Krepps is the manager of the resort's Spa Amira, and its newly-opened salon, Lillyjade.

VP and general manager Adriene Kokowicz says Krepps was chosen for her experience, high standards, and her leadership in opening the new salon.

"Sallie has always been effective in her positions at The Homestead. Not only does she provide exemplary service to our guests, she trains her associates to do the same," says Kokowicz. "Sallie also took a lead position in assisting with the new salon, Lillyjade that was built this year. She has developed the programs and services and has a wonderful team of associates. She has an outstanding attitude, one that is focused on service."

Krepps, who is from Empire, has been working at The Homestead since 2009, when she began as an esthetician at Spa Amira. The next year, she became spa manager, and her cosmetology background helped add the full-service Lillyjade in 2011. Krepps now manages both.

That Associate of the Year award is no joke, either; Krepps is receiving a vacation trip for two to anywhere in the U.S., including airfare and $500 in spending money. She says she'll use it to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary and 50th birthday this year.

The other Associate of the Year nominees were Neal Kokowicz, banquet manager; Dan Stewart, accounting manager; Chris Sutton, accommodations manager; and Shane Wyatt, utilities manager.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Adriene Kokowicz, The Homestead

The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center is getting continued funding, at least through this spring, according to an announcement from U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin.

The center, which has an office in Traverse City, is the Michigan arm of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which links public and private resources to help small and medium-sized manufacturers across the state.

It's received federal funding in the past, and the senators say that award was extended because of the need for the center's services in Michigan. Among those services are helping Michigan's 12,600 small manufacturers expand their operations, become more efficient, increase sales, and create jobs.

"MMTC appreciates the longstanding support of the MEP network provided by Senators Stabenow and Levin. They understand the importance that manufacturing provides as an economic driver across our country and especially in Michigan. Each manufacturing job is significant, as it generates output in so many other sectors of the economy," says Mike Coast, president of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center.

The award was in the amount of $945,000, and was awarded through the Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology. It will support the center's operations through June of 2012.

The other offices of the center are in Plymouth, Grand Rapids, Saginaw and Marquette.
    
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Mike Coast, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center

Working for a company you're unhappy with is a sure way to come home stressed, depressed and frustrated. But, employees at Michigan's Kelly Services apparently don't have to deal with that, because the company just got the Happiest Companies in America award for 2012 from CareerBliss.

It's only the award's second year, but it honors employers who make outstanding efforts to create workplace happiness. Troy-based Kelly Services has a Traverse City office, among others, and hasn't received the award before.

CareerBliss is an online career community that focuses on helping people find happiness and success throughout their careers. In order to award the title of happiest company, it analyzed thousands of reviews and ratings reported by employees of each company in 2010 and 2011.

"Kelly Services is honored to be recognized by CareerBliss as  one of the Happiest Companies in America," says Carl Camden, president and CEO of Kelly Services. "This award is especially meaningful to us because it's based on the feedback of both our full-time employees and our free agents--showing that when you connect talented people with meaningful work, and then champion their success, you create a company where people are excited to come to work and give their best every day."

Kelly Services is a temporary employment agency that connects those seeking work with temporary or consulting jobs matching their skills, and also employs full-time regular workers at its offices.

The company was evaluated on work-life balance, relationship with management and colleagues, work environment, job resources, compensation, growth opportunities, company culture, reputation, daily workload, and employee control over daily work.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Carl Camden, Kelly Services

Oryana Natural Foods Market has some changes at the top of the store management, with a new store manager in Traverse City and new department managers as well.

The store's general manager, Steve Nance, says that Eldon Horner will be the new store manager. Horner is a long-time employee with 13 years of experience in food retailing, and eight of those have been at Oryana.

"We are thrilled to see one of our own transition into this managerial position," says Nance. "Eldon was chosen from a number of great candidates for his operational skills and experience and his long commitment to Oryana."

Horner will now manage the operational aspects of the store and oversee department, front-end and food service managers.

Among the new promotions to that level of position are Brian Bowman, who will be grocery manager, and Gabe Eriksen, who will be grocery operations manager.

Each have many years of experience behind them as well; Bowman has been at Oryana for 11 years, and Eriksen has worked there for nine years.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Steve Nance, Oryana Natural Foods Market

Winter can be a slow time for northern Michigan businesses, but maybe that's a good thing for some, if it means there's time to take a new "business survival" class offered by the Business Training Alliance.

The class, titled Survival for the Up North Business, focuses on best practices, building relationships and boosting businesses' bottom lines, and is hosted by the alliance along with Baker College in Cadillac and the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center.

It's scheduled for Jan. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Baker College, and is instructed by Chris Wendel, a consultant with the MI-SBTDC and longtime retail store owner.

"Not only is Survival for the Up North Business extremely timely for local business owners as we're heading into the winter months when most small businesses are buckling down and preparing for lower sales, this is also a perfect opportunity to highlight our partnership with Baker College and the express classes now available to new and experienced local entrepreneurs," says Annie Shetler, BTA coordinator and also a MI-SBTDC consultant.

Since many northern Michigan small businesses are affected by the seasons, the class will address tactics to build non-seasonal sales, such as online marketing. Other highlights are how to make your existing customers part of boosting sales, and how to compete with business competitors of different sizes.

The class is free, but registration is required. Register online here.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Annie Shetler, Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center

A Mancelona store was recognized as an industry leader in flooring recently, as Kiss Carpet Design Center received the Retailer of the Year award from Mohawk Flooring for the mid-central region.

That area includes flooring retailers in Ohio Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, so it means Kiss Carpet really stood out this year. Owners Ken Roberts Sr. and Ken Roberts Jr. (yes, father and son, if you wondered) traveled to Tennessee to accept the award--and it wasn't the first win for the company.

"To receive this industry award in 2004 and now again for 2011 is a tremendous honor," says Roberts, Sr. "We pride ourselves on being a reputable local business that always puts the customer's needs first, and we are delighted that Mohawk recognizes our efforts. We are invested in our community, and as your local flooring provider, we want all of our customers to feel like they are part of the Kiss Carpet family."

Among the criteria Mohawk used in choosing the regional retailer of the year are an increase in sales and business, excellence in promotions, ongoing commitment to training, high store standards, efforts in brand building and merchandising, new installation ideas, and community involvement.

The family-owned and operated Kiss Carpet has three stores; in Mancelona, Harbor Springs and Traverse City.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Ken Roberts, Sr., Kiss Carpet Design Center

There's a lot to be said for having a local bank in your community with strong ties to its customers, stakeholders and clients.

Those ties were obvious over the past year for Traverse City State Bank, as it faced an order from the FDIC to improve its asset quality and capital holdings in order to fix operational deficiencies. The order was given in 2010.

Now, the bank has met all of the requirements, in an unusually short time frame, and it's thanking its customers and community for making that possible.

Traverse City State Bank was recently re-rated by independent rating agency Bauer Financial, and attained a three-star rating on a scale of five stars; an upgrade from "problematic" to "adequate" in just over a year.

"We did it the old fashioned way – by working our own way out," says Connie Deneweth, TCSB's president and CEO. "The statistics surrounding our turnaround are quite impressive. The bank has returned to profitability and has added $7.2 million in new capital; its community shareholders have increased from 300 to 350; the last stock offering filled quickly, and there is now a waiting list of potential shareholders."

Part of that turnaround was the confidence local customers and shareholders showed in the bank. Rather than classing it with the rest of the nation's banking problems and turning away, Traverse City residents decided to support their local bank instead. The bank had major growth in mortgage loans, making it the third highest-producing mortgage lender in Grand Traverse County; checking account balances at the bank have increased by 52 percent over last year, and non-performing loans have been reduced significantly.

"We owe every one of our clients and shareholders a big thank you. The bank's board of directors was particularly impressed with our customer and shareholder support. Our clients and community members rallied with us during this challenging time to help Traverse City State Bank. For that we are truly appreciative," says Deneweth.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Connie Deneweth, Traverse City State Bank

In place of Michigan's former Council for Labor and Economic Growth, Governor Rick Snyder has announced and created a new board called the Talent Investment Board, to focus on job creation and talent development and connections.

The new board has 47 members, in contrast to the council's previous 71 members, and is overseen by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The governor is on the board, as are four legislators and five state department directors. The other members all were appointed to represent various business, jobs, education and program interests in Michigan.

They included two northwest Michigan representatives; Elaine Wood of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, and Katherine Hogan of Hagerty Insurance.

"One of the ways we will reinvent Michigan is to create an environment of job growth and talent development," Snyder says. "I am confident these individuals will use their diverse backgrounds and expertise to help meet these key goals."

Wood, of Traverse City, is CEO of NMCOG, and will advise the board on workforce development and compliance with the federal Workforce Investment Act as well as representing people and organizations who are experienced in workforce investment activities.

Hogan, of Cedar, is VP of corporate training and development for Hagerty Insurance, and specializes in creative and situational leadership. She will represent businesses in Michigan.

The board will be chaired by Gordon White, Jr. of Lansing, of DHR International. Appointed as vice chair was Bing Goei of Grand Rapids, of Eastern Floral. Yet to be appointed is one member of the board to represent Native American businesses and programs.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Governor Rick Snyder, State of Michigan

We sometimes take for granted our wonderful state parks and recreation areas in Michigan, but the National Recreation and Park Association obviously doesn't, because the group awarded Michigan its 2011 Gold Medal, recognizing Michigan's parks as the top state park system in the nation.

The medal is awarded each year out of four finalists; Michigan beat out North Carolina, Florida and Missouri, for the top spot.

"We are very proud to receive this award, and I want to recognize the employees of the Parks and Recreation Division who have worked hard to make sure our 99 state parks and recreation areas remain excellent places for our citizens and visitors to experience Michigan's abundant and amazing natural resources," says DNR Director Rodney Stokes. "This is the result of teamwork, talent and vision that is aimed at protecting our special places, and also making sure that visitors have an enjoyable, high quality experience."

The Gold Medal is given to states that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management, and agency recognition. Each parks agency is judged on its ability to serve the public.

In the DNR's application for consideration, it highlighted innovations like the recreation passport, a $10 optional fee when residents renew their vehicle registrations with the Secretary of State. The passport is a simple sticker on a vehicle's license plate that allows them access to all state parks -- which greatly simplified the previous parks pass system, as well as increasing resident participation. The fees go toward supporting parks, boating access sites, and state forest recreation programs, as well as a grant program for local parks.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Rodney Stokes, Michigan Department of Natural Resources

A new program from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has been launched to support small and mid-sized businesses across the state, and seven Northwest Michigan businesses are among them.

There are fifty-four initial companies receiving business development support through the Pure Michigan Business Connect Economic Gardening Pilot Program. Support comes in four areas: strategy and management, market research, Internet and social media strategy, and geographical information systems.

"The goal of this program is to help these second-stage companies grow and in turn, generate new private investment and create new jobs for Michigan," says MEDC CEO and president Michael Finney. "The program is part of our toolkit for economic gardening that’s built on Michigan’s broad asset base of strong corporate enterprises, innovative entrepreneurs and rich technology resources."

In Northwest Michigan, the companies are: Classic Instruments of Boyne City, which builds instruments for the auto industry; Cygnus, Inc. of Petoskey, which makes computer workstations for the healthcare industry; Frontier Computer Corp. of Traverse City, providing global IT solutions; R.M. Young Company of Traverse City, which makes weather instruments; Springfield Commercial Roofing in Kingsley, which provides roofing, building analysis and insulation systems; Alfie of Traverse City, which markets companies through embroidery, screen printing and other products; and Island Airways of Beaver Island, which is a transportation and warehouse company.

The companies were chosen from nominations from local economic development representatives across the state. They were chosen based on the markets they serve, their growth potential, and their likelihood of benefiting from the services.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Michael Finney, Michigan Economic Development Corporation