http://www.enterprisegroup.org en dkelly@enterprisegroup.org Copyright 2012 2012-02-03T19:15:01-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1018 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/who-should-pay-for-economic-development-in-jackson-county/#When:19:15:01Z Friday, February 3, 2012 By Tarryl Jackson Jackson Citizen Patriot Most agree it is time to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to growing jobs and businesses in Jackson County. But who should have to pay and how much is a little more gray. As local governments become more strapped for cash, there seems to be a growing undercurrent that it is time for the private sector to do more to fund The Enterprise Group of Jackson, the countys lead economic development agency. At the same time, The Enterprise Groups board of directors is exploring ways to create a more consistent financial model so the organization can focus on its No. 1 mission: To create a viable economy in Jackson. Though the organization is definitely at a crossroads, Enterprise Group officials are quick to point out that they are addressing the issue now before funding becomes an issue. ‘We are not in dire financial trouble,’ said Hendrik Schuur, The Enterprise Groups board chairman. ‘I tend to think the glass is half full. The support is out there in the community.’ Does the existing funding model work? Established in 1997, the Enterprise Group was tasked to lead business recruitment and retention in Jackson County. Its roughly $1.2 million annual budget (it varies from year to year) taps a variety of sources, including private business, local governments, foundations and a hefty $500,000 each year from the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association and the Academy for Manufacturing Careers. Those funds are derived primarily from JAMA membership dues and revenue from manufacturing classes. The city of Jackson and Jackson County generally give the Enterprise Group $100,000 each, and the EG also earns roughly another $125,000 from local governments contracting specific jobs with the agency. The remaining $375,000 comes from private contributions, as well as revenues from state and federal contracts. ‘That is a pretty broad stream of revenue that comes in,’ Schuur said. ‘We do not have our eggs in one basket.’ What is governments obligation locally? Local politicians do not deny they have an important role in this communitys economic development. But lately, there have been hints that what that support looks like could change. A few months ago, Jackson City Councilman Dan Greer suggested a contract with the EG might not be necessary next fiscal year. After all, the city recently recruited and hired City Manager Larry Shaffer and Community Development Director Patrick Burtch, both of whom have an impressive background in economic development. Shaffer, however, was quick to note that the Enterprise Group is still an important player in keeping Jacksons job and business growth on track. What he would like to see is more of a financial commitment from those in the private sector. Though, he acknowledged they have had a rough go with the economy in recent years. Blackman Township Supervisor Dan Hawkins and Summit Township Supervisor Jim Dunn agreed the private sector could do more. ‘I would like to see a formula where more private company commitment is being made so that the local government is not relied so much upon,’ Hawkins said. Still, Hawkins admits the $42,500 his township paid to the Enterprise Group was worth it. The Blackman Township Board, the City Council and the Jackson County Board of Commissioners reviews funding requests from the EG annually. All spoke favorably of the organization, none could make future promises about funding. ‘I do not see a reason why it would not be (approved next year,) said Hawkins. ‘But nothing is for sure.’ The private sector: Can they? Will they? Ask local business leaders — both large and small — several agree the Enterprise Group needs more support from the private sector. ‘It shows the community that the businesses are behind the effort,’ said Allen Hooper, director of economic development for Consumers Energy. ‘I think Jackson is kind of short when it comes to private sector involvement. Our private sector commitment does not match what some other communities are doing.’ Others, particularly those who have benefited from the Enterprise Groups help, feel even more strongly. Still, it is difficult for a startup to offer up large portions of cash. Full Spectrum Solutions built a 72,000-square-foot headquarters at 2021 Wellworth Ave. with much help from the Enterprise Group. ‘We can certainly help them more as a company, said owner Michael Nevins. ‘We would like to see the entrepreneurial spirit improve in the area.’ Ric Walton of The Walton Agency said both governmental entities and private companies should step up. ‘We all live here and we talk about the quality of life,’ he said. Selling the importance of the Enterprise Group Many do not seem to understand the full scope of Enterprise Groups efforts. ‘There is a lot of scrutiny and pessimism about government expenditure of money,’ Hawkins said. ‘It is a tough time not just to be The Enterprise Group. It is a tough time to be in government.’ The EGs Amy Torres said the Enterprise Group cant talk details, mostly at the request of the companies, she said. ‘I can only talk about it generically because companies do not want their business out there,’ Torres said. ‘It is hard to measure what we do.’ So what is the magic funding formula? While there is no magic bullet, there are several good funding models out there. Whether those models are successful depends in large part on the characteristics of the community, said John Avery, executive director of the Michigan Economic Developers Association. The groups can be funded solely by government money, private contributions or a combination of both. The key, Avery said, is consistency. ‘There is no right or wrong way,’ he said. News 2012-02-03T19:15:01-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1017 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/jacksons-manufacturing-history-on-display-at-ella-sharp-museum-this-month/#When:19:14:00Z Friday, February 3, 2012 By Tarryl Jackson Jackson Citizen Patriot Jacksons manufacturing history will be explored through a new exhibit at the Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association, the exhibit — ‘The World Takes What Jackson Makes: The History of the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association’ — will highlight the 13 original companies that started the organization. The exhibit will also also explore Jacksons manufacturing traditions and show what companies are doing in the community. The exhibit will be on display from Feb. 14 to April 14. There will be a VIP opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13. To make a reservation or for more information, call Cari Wolfe at 787-2320 or email cariw@ellasharp.org. News 2012-02-03T19:14:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1016 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/the-enterprise-group-of-jackson-is-searching-for-new-leader/#When:19:10:00Z Friday, February 3, 2012 By Tarryl Jackson Jackson Citizen Patriot The Enterprise Group, Jackson Countys economic development agency, is searching for a new president and CEO. Scott Fleming, who led the organization since 2008, stepped down in October. He is the executive director at the DeSoto Economic Development Corp. in Texas. ‘We are looking for a seasoned professional that can hit the ground running,’ said Hendrik Schuur, board chairman of The Enterprise Group. Until a new executive director is selected, the following people make up the interim executive team: Amy Torres, vice president of economic development at The Enterprise Group; Connie King, the agencys vice president of finance, human resources and accounting; and Bill Rayl, executive director at the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association. The board has also worked extensively on what they think the role of the CEO should be, Schuur said. ‘Our vision of the CEO is to have him lead his team, to bring in jobs,’ Schuur said. ‘Our job is to support him. I think by early spring, we’ll have an announcement to make.’ Summit Township Supervisor Jim Dunn said the area has come a long way in the past few years in economic development with the leadership of Scott Fleming. ‘I think it was a great loss to the community when he left, but that is water under the bridge,’ he said. ‘The leadership of that group is critical. I think they have done a wonderful job here.’ News 2012-02-03T19:10:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1019 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/economic-development-leaders-applaud-maci-expansion-in-jackson-county-that-/#When:19:29:00Z By Tarrly Jackson Thursday, February 2, 2012 Jackson Citizen Patriot The Enterprise Group of Jackson, the countys lead economic-development agency, is pleased by Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc.s possible building expansion. Jackson Countys largest manufacturing employer looking at possibly expanding its 800,000-square-foot building and is in the process of applying for permits. (Related story: MACI’s possible expansion could mean more jobs for Jackson area) The proposal is to add 3 1/2 bays — about 201,600 square feet total — extending directly west from the current building at 2400 N. Dearing Road to house production equipment and warehouse space. Amy Torres, director of economic development for The Enterprise Group of Jackson, said MACI has brought hundreds of jobs and established a solid manufacturing base in the Jackson area. MACI opened its plant in 1990. ‘The establishment of the Parma-Sandstone LDFA (Local Development Finance Authority) and the assistance it provided convinced MACI to choose the Jackson community, after having considered 17 sites in six states,’ Torres said in an email. ‘The continuing significant investments MACI has made in their plant, machinery and creation of jobs in Jackson is the reason that using incentives such as Local Development Finance Authorities, tax abatements and the MEGA grant they were awarded in November, 2010 are so important to our community.’ Although company officials do not yet have an estimate, more jobs are expected to be available if the expansion happens, Norey said. MACI, which produces automotive air-conditioning compressors primarily for Chrysler and General Motors, is looking at expanding because it anticipates more ongoing business from its customers. Officials do not know yet how much the expansion would cost but it could be ‘millions of dollars,’ spokeswoman Cheryl Norey said. It is not guaranteed that the expansion will happen. MACIs parent companies, Toyota Industries Corporation and DENSO Corp., are expected to make a decision concerning the possible expansion by March. News 2012-02-02T19:29:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1015 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/jama-exhibit-at-ella-sharp-museum/#When:18:36:00Z Visit the Ella Sharp Museum between February 14 - April 14, 2012 to see “The World Takes What Jackson Makes: The History of the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association.” News 2012-02-02T18:36:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1012 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/maci-studying-possibility-of-building-expansion/#When:17:12:17Z Press Release courtesy of MACI Wednesday, February 1, 2012 MACI officials announced today that they are studying the potential for a building expansion and are in the process of applying for permits.  This activity is not a guarantee that the new building process will go forward. Plans submitted for permitting purposes show a 3.5 bay expansion extending directly west of the current building, which is located in the Parma-Sandstone Industrial Park at I-94 and Dearing Road.  The 3.5 bays, about 201,600 square feet, would house both production equipment and warehouse space.  If the expansion were to occur, the total square footage of the company would be 988,500.  MACI is a joint venture between two global corporations, Toyota Industries Corporation, www.toyota-industries.com, or TICO, and DENSO Corporation, www.globaldenso.com.  The parent companies are expected to make a decision concerning the possible building expansion by March, 2012. MACI is currently adding $130 million in new equipment in order to build a newly-developed, variable-displacement compressor.  The potential new building expansion would be a separate investment. Maintenance, production engineering and production positions are available.  Inquiries for production jobs should be made to Anchor Staffing at 517-622-7508.  For salaried professions or skilled trades positions, contact 517-622-7502. Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc., MACI, is the largest manufacturing employer in Jackson County with 645 associates.  Established in 1989, the company manufactures automotive air-conditioning compressor units for North American automotive manufacturers.  Customers include GM, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, and Honda, as well as Freightliner and John Deere. News 2012-02-02T17:12:17-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1009 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/jobless-rate-increases-in-county/#When:15:35:00Z Friday, January 27, 2012 By Tarryl Jackson Jackson Citizen Patriot Jackson Countys unemployment rate is back up to 8.6 percent. The jobless rate in December represents a increase from 7.8 percent in November and 8.4 percent in October, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget said today. The unemployment rate stood at 10.9 percent in December 2010. Todays report showed 6,200 Jackson County residents collected unemployment benefits in December. That compares to 5,600 who were receiving unemployment in November and 7,900 in December 2010. Amy L. Torres, director of economic development at The Enterprise Group of Jackson, said the agency is working with local government on a number of attraction and expansion projects. ‘If all come to fruition, they will have a positive impact on our employment levels in Jackson.’ Torres said in an email. ‘Even though the rate wavered a bit this month, I continue to be optimistic it will begin to decline again in the next couple of months.’ News 2012-01-27T15:35:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1007 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/maci-to-invest-1m-to-reduce-emissions/#When:15:13:00Z Wednesday, January 25, 2012 By Tarryl Jackson Jackson Citizen Patriot A new $1 million facility upgrade at Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc., will allow the manufacturer to be more environmentally friendly, spokeswoman Cheryl Norey said. The company, 2400 N. Dearing Road, announced today it has purchased a regenerative thermal oxidizer, a 99-percent efficient unit that burns volatile organic compounds that come off adhesives, Norey said. The new processes and the oxidizer represent a 500-percent decrease in emissions over previous production lines. ‘It burns so efficiently and it reduces our emissions into the environment,’ Norey said. ‘That is a priority to the company.’ The purchase serves new hub lines being installed as part of a $130 million expansion. In November 2010, MACI announced its plans to invest about $72 million during the next two years to retool virtually all of its production lines. The company has since adjusted that figure to $130 million because of added equipment to the plan and the Japanese yen exchange rate, Norey said. The company makes a fixed-type compressor, and the new lines will allow it to also make a variable-type compressor that customers are requesting because they are lighter and more efficient. ‘The type of compressor we will be making is the compressor of the future,’ Norey said. News 2012-01-26T15:13:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1003 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/editorial-gov-rick-snyder-delivers-modest-state-of-the-state-address-that-s/#When:15:51:00Z Thursday, January 19, 2012 Jackson Citizen Patriot Staff Gov. Rick Snyder started his second State of the State address Wednesday night riding high, with news that state unemployment is at its lowest level in more than three years. By the end of it, the governor appeared diminished. Critics quickly dismissed it as thin gruel, lacking in (depending on ones viewpoint) specifics, ambition or compassion. Any shortcomings in the governors speech, however, reflect deeper issues that might curtail his agenda for the next year. Democrats — angered by Republicans legislative agenda and persistence last year — simply are not going to cooperate on substantive matters. Members of Snyders party, meanwhile, now have their own pet causes to advance in an election year. A ‘right-to-work’ law, anyone? Snyder, the man in the middle, deserves praise for Wednesdays speech not because it set the bar low, but because he focused on what will serve state residents best. If he accomplishes the goals he laid out in 2012, he will be remembered for getting a heck of a lot done. The governor turned the speech into a continuation of work that began last year. The states business tax code has been turned on its head; now, Snyder is focusing on regulatory reform. He picked an obscure but telling example: the existence of 28 state requirements for outhouses, ‘including a requirement that the seat not be left up.’ Snyder focused on Michigans road system, emphasizing the need to somehow generate $1.4 billion for needed repairs. Roads are a quality-of-life issue for residents, and they factor into business recruitment. And he put his weight behind common-sense ideas: addressing Michigans childhood-obesity epidemic; improving public safety in cities; and new laws that would require more campaign-finance disclosure and slow the flow on state employees who leave for private companies that pursue government contracts. One knock on this agenda is that the details still are hazy. Snyder does not submit his budget until Feb. 9, and he will deliver his policy speech on public safety in March. While Republican lawmakers offered support for the governor, they conceded they were not sure what specific issues will become priorities. To the governors credit, one issue he intends to promote is a new bridge from Detroit to Ontario. Snyder pushed this bridge last year, but saw it die in a Senate committee. Maybe he will have better luck politically with the spectacle of Ambassador Bridge mogul Matty Moroun going to jail, or maybe his arguments will simply win out, but the construction of a second cross-border bridge would be a monumental achievement. Snyder is by no means damaged goods, not with an improving economy and a year of great accomplishment, but the next few months could prove frustrating politically. He was right to focus Wednesday on ideas that ought to have solid support and continue the drumbeat of government reform. As the governor put it, ‘It is not about big government or small government. It is about good government. Government doing the right things for the right reasons.’ News 2012-01-19T15:51:00-05:00 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/news-story/1004 http://www.enterprisegroup.org/index.php/site/introducing-the-why-michigan-video-series/#When:16:22:00Z Wednesday, January 18, 2012 Courtesy of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Founders Brewery says it chose Michigan for its ‘delicious water.’ ePrize chose Michigan for its cost structure and quality of life. In a new series of web videos launching today, you will hear directly from business leaders who have opted to locate and grow their companies in Pure Michigan. This ongoing video series will profile Michigan-based businesses, their people and their growth. From the states new tax structure to access to talent to proximity to leading universities to the Pure Michigan quality of life, the reasons business leaders are choosing to grow in Michigan are many. Through these videos, you will hear directly from individuals making decisions about where to headquarter or grow their business in Michigan. Let us know what you think of our video series or share your own ‘Why Michigan?’ story by joining the conversation on the Michigan Advantage Facebook page, subscribing to the Michigan Advantage YouTube channel, following Michigan Advantage on Twitter and subscribing to the Michigan Advantage blog. We will be using these channels to share new videos in the series. www.MichiganAdvantage.org News 2012-01-18T16:22:00-05:00