Supporting Housing Development in Mi

As Michigan communities grow, accessible and affordable housing remains essential for sustained economic development. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) offers innovative programs that can make a significant difference for developers, local authorities, and community planners. Two standout initiatives—MI Neighborhood 2.0 and Housing Tax Increment Financing (TIF)—are currently available to support housing projects across

Upcoming Changes to Michigan Labor L

Significant legal changes are on the horizon for Michigan businesses. The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled on updates to the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) and the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (IWOWA), which will affect all businesses operating in the state. Understanding these changes and preparing your business is crucial. To help you navigate

Department of Labor’s Overtime Rul

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated the Department of Labor’s overtime rule that significantly increased the salary threshold. This ruling applies nationwide. In its ruling, the court criticized the rule’s rise in the salary threshold level as displacing the duties test for white-collar exemptions by being too steep. In light

Reconnect, Reimagine, Return: The 8t

In the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a unique annual event is bringing together job seekers, alums, and U.P. natives from near and far for a day of virtual networking and career exploration. The 8th Annual Return North Career Fair, proudly presented by MTEC SmartZone in partnership with Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! and Michigan Technological

Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA), Improve

Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA), Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (IWOWA), and Increased Exempt Employee Salary Threshold Roundtable On October 9, The Alliance hosted a roundtable with Attorney Jacob D. Lynch, Attorney Anthony E. Cavalieri, and Tony Flaminio, CPA, to review the changes businesses must comply with regarding IWOWA and ESTA beginning February 21, 2025.

2024 Dickinson EDA Fall Update

Earned Sick Time Act and Improved Wo

August 2024 Quick Reference Guide    The Alliance participated in a webinar for UP Economic Developers by Varnum, LLP regarding the changes coming to small businesses as it pertains to the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) and Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (IWOWA) laws.   The information below is a summary of the presentation by Stephanie

Shift Next-Level Career Magazine 202

2024 Skilled Trade Career Paths Magazine The Dickinson County Talent & Education Taskforce is excited to release this year’s Next-Level Career Magazine! With the hope of reaching future professionals within and outside of Dickinson County, this magazine was designed for students, teachers, educators, and anyone interested in pursuing a career-oriented future. Learn about the different

The Alliance celebrates graduates en

  The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance announces a call for nominations to recognize local high school graduates pursuing skilled trades career paths upon graduation. The Dickinson County area is home to many large companies in the manufacturing, construction, healthcare and technology sectors that offer meaningful careers in fields that align with Career and Technical

Dickinson Area Economic Development

ALLIANCE SEEKING NEXT EXECUTIVE DIRE

The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance (The Alliance), an economic development organization, seeks a well-experienced and dynamic Executive Director to lead the organization in Dickinson County, Michigan. After six years in the position, the current Executive Director is retiring. POSITION SUMMARY The Executive Director is the administrative officer of the organization and is responsible to

2023 Dickinson EDA Fall Update

Area students to gain insight from m

Manufacturing Day brings together ninth-grade students from area schools to interact with local manufacturers and learn about professional trade careers. “Our goal in bringing together students and area employers is to shift perceptions about what it means to work in the professional trades upon graduating high school,” shared Lois Ellis, director of the Dickinson Area

Central UP Regional Housing Partners

Are you concerned about housing availability and affordability in the Central Upper Peninsula? The  Central UP Regional Housing Partnership’s Draft Action Plan is available for public review. The draft action plan aligns with Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s Statewide Housing Plan to address this issue in Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, and Schoolcraft Counties. Your

A Tourist Treasure

Business in Focus features our downtown districts and trail networks of the Dickinson area in its April tourism issue.  We sat down with Mindy Meyers of Downtown Iron Mountain, Dan Stoltman of the City of Norway, and Chad Susott of Dickinson Trail Network to talk about the abundance of economic opportunities, our thriving tourism industry,

SHIFT: Next-Level Career Magazine 20

2023 Skilled Trade Career Paths Magazine The Dickinson County Talent & Education Taskforce is excited to release this year’s Next-Level Career Magazine! With the hope of reaching future professionals within and outside of Dickinson County, this magazine was designed for students, teachers, educators, and anyone interested in pursuing a career-oriented future. Learn about the different

Manufacturing day at Bay College Wes

The Alliance’s new program SHIFT aims to raise awareness of professional trades careers Iron Mountain, Mich., (September 30, 2022) – The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance joins Bay College West, the Dickinson-Iron ISD Tech Center, Michigan Works, and local manufacturers in marking Manufacturing Day on Friday, October 7. The event brings together ninth-grade students from

Investor Highlight Series: Breitung

Breitung Township Schools (BTS) was founded in 1925 and was initially comprised of several local neighborhood schools. In the early 1920s, the construction phase of the schools was described as a ‘splendid cooperation’ within the community. The current Kingsford High School was completed in 1964 with several changes since, while Woodland Elementary and Kingsford Middle

Gov. Whitmer Announces 50 New Jobs a

Gov. Whitmer announced the expansion of LP Building Solutions with the MEDC today. This $194 million expansion will create 50 jobs while retaining the current 151 jobs already at the site and it will be one of the largest projects supported by the MSF in the upper peninsula. With the support of a Michigan Business

Employer-Based Childcare Solutions

Lake Superior Community Partnership and U.P. Michigan Works! have just recently released an Employer-Based Childcare Solutions handout to aid the U.P.-wide childcare crisis. An interactive version of the Employer-Based Childcare Solutions handout can be downloaded here. If you would like the infographic version, you can download that by clicking here.

2022 Next-Level Career & Techni

After months of planning and hard work, the Dickinson County Talent & Education Taskforce is excited to release this year’s Next-Level Career & Technical Education Magazine! With the hope of reaching future professionals within and outside of Dickinson County, this magazine was designed for students, teachers, educators, and anyone interested in pursuing a career-oriented future.

DCH Expands Heart Care Services for

Dr. Edgar Massabni Brings Vascular Interventional Services Closer to Home IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. – Dickinson County Healthcare is expanding heart care services for the community with the addition of Edgar Massabni, MD, to the Regional Heart Care Clinic.

A Proud Manufacturing Heritage

In our second feature with Business in Focus magazine, we sat down with Brad Lebouef of Systems Control and Jody Christy of BOSS Snowplow to talk about manufacturing legacy and growing demand for manufacturing employees in Dickinson County.

Lake Shore Systems #KeepUPWorking in

About Lake Shore Systems Lake Shore Systems has been designing and manufacturing heavy machinery for the maritime and mining industries for 163 years.  Founded in the U.P. in 1858, we are still striving to be the premier provider of innovative products and solutions for our customers.

Dickinson Area Economic Development

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 1, 2021 Iron Mountain, Michigan (October 1, 2021) The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance joins Bay College West, Northern Initiatives-MMTC, DIISD, Michigan Works, and local manufacturers in marking Manufacturing Day on Friday, October 1, and celebrating the entire month of October. The goal of Manufacturing Day is to raise awareness about skilled

Loadmaster #KeepUPWorking in Dickins

About Loadmaster Loadmaster is a leading manufacturer of high-quality refuse equipment. Located in Norway Michigan, our equipment is made in the USA with pride! We are a family owned and operated company with a legacy in the waste industry. Loadmaster prides itself in listening to the customer and providing a product based on their needs.

Louisiana-Pacific #KeepUPWorking in

About Louisiana-Pacific Corporation As a leader in high-performance building solutions, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP Building Solutions, NYSE: LPX) manufactures engineered wood building products that meet the demands of builders worldwide. Its extensive offerings include innovative and dependable building products and accessories, such as: LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding LP Structural Solutions portfolio LP WeatherLogic® Air &

M.J. Electric #KeepUPWorking in Dick

About M.J. Electric For over 60 years, M. J. Electric has built long-standing working relationships and an industry-wide reputation as the single source solution to our customer’s construction and maintenance needs. Our culture is a product of our core values and operating principles which unite our personnel. Their professional competence and intelligent innovation result in

BOSS Snowplow #KeepUPWorking in Dick

About BOSS Snowplow BOSS began manufacturing snowplow in Iron Mountain, MI in 1985.  In the early years, the company was focused on taking a revolutionary and untested product design and improving it to meet the quality and durability expectations of the commercial snow removal professional. Today, BOSS is a leader in the snow and ice

Click here to see all Featured Employers. Bay College #KeepUPWorking in Dickinson County About Bay College Since the early 1970’s, Bay College has had a presence in Dickinson County, dedicating itself to offering academically excellent and affordable public education in our region. The college prepares students to be continuous learners who succeed upon transfer, work

41 Lumber #KeepUPWorking in Dickinso

About 41 Lumber 41 Lumber is a full-service building material supply and design company. We have a retail store and distribution center in Quinnesec, and our kitchen and design center in downtown Iron Mountain will open in April 2021. We have five additional retail locations outside of Dickinson County. Building Dreams, One Project at a

DCH Expands Orthopedic Team with the

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County Healthcare is increasing bone and joint care for the community with the addition of Jack Sproul, MD, to the area’s largest orthopedic team. As a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Sproul brings high bone and joint expertise levels, including arthroscopy, to the Iron Mountain community. He provides care and healing to

CCI Systems #KeepUPWorking in Dickin

About CCI Systems For more than 65 years, CCI Systems has been a leading provider of Telecommunications Solutions and Services. Headquartered in Iron Mountain Michigan, CCI Sytems is one of the largest employers in town, employing over 500 of our 850 employees in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We deliver across the network solutions for

MSF Approves Funding for Sandstone S

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant of $414,950 in support of Eden Property Collection’s Sandstone Studio Projects. Lois Ellis was quoted in the announcement. “There is an acute need for new housing options in the area due to growth of the area’s employment base,” said Dickinson Area Economic Development

Dickinson County Healthcare System #

Dickinson County Healthcare System (DCHS) is one of the largest employers in the Dickinson Area. Having earned its 3rd Consecutive “A” Grade for Patient Safety, DCHS one of the most consistently recognized rural hospitals nationally for patient safety, and was named as a 2020 Top Rural Hospital in the United States by Leapfrog. DCHS is

Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center #

Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center has hired 163 individuals in the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for a video from the Iron Mountain VA recognizing and honoring their employees. About Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center  The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (OGJVAMC) is celebrating 70 years

Systems Control #KeepUPWorking in Di

Systems Control has hired more than 100 individuals in Dickinson county in 2020 and they are not slowing down. Click here for more information. About Systems Control Systems Control designs and manufactures customized, turnkey systems that protect, transmit and distribute energy from source to grid to consumer. Our approach is simple: design, optimize, manufacture, and

#KeepUPWorking Dickinson County –

Now is a great time to be looking for work in Dickinson County. With one of the lowest unemployment rates in all of Michigan, our major employers are still hiring. Each month we will be featuring an area employer and information about why It Pays to Work Now in our community. If your company wants

Webinar Available to Upper Peninsula

Upper Peninsula — As Upper Peninsula businesses look to engage with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) through contracts, there is a new model that all vendors for the DoD will need to follow. Suppliers without a Request for Proposal (RFP) required Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) will not be able to win new DoD

BOSS Snowplow Expands Operations in

IRON MOUNTAIN — BOSS Snowplow, a leader in snow and ice management, today announced that it is expanding its facility in Iron Mountain, Michigan. The project will add approximately 44,000 square feet of additional manufacturing space to the existing facility, which will include a new paint line and improvements to its R&D facility to increase

Dickinson Area 2020 Housing Market A

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission (CUPPAD) released the 2020 Housing Marketing Assessment for Dickinson County. Key findings highlight opportunities for real estate developers and property owners, some of which are already in action in downtown Iron Mountain. For the full press release, click here.

Michigan Small Business Restart Prog

IRON MOUNTAIN — A second round of grant funding is being made available by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) through the Michigan Small Business Restart Program which is intended to infuse an additional $100 million in grant funding to small businesses throughout the State. The funds were appropriated via the federal CARES Act funding

Dickinson Area Economic Development

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance (DAEDA) is marking National Economic Development Week from May 4-9, 2020 to celebrate the contributions of positive economic development and explain the role of the profession in our local community. For the full press release, click here.

The Alliance is Hiring!

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance is growing. We are looking for a talented individual to join the team as a part time Marketing and Communications Coordinator. For the full job description, click here.

Lake Antoine Park Partners Receive G

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Lake Antoine Park Partners are recipients of the 2018 Land.Water.Thrive Greenspace Enhancement Grant from The Toro Company and BOSS Snowplow. The $40,000 grant will be used to revitalize the beach and lawn areas of Lake Antoine Park. Congratulations! We are looking forward to seeing the improvements! For more information, click here.

YMCA to offer child care with System

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Northern Lights YMCA Dickinson Center, in partnership with Systems Control, plans to open the Little Sparks Child Care Center in the spring. Read The Daily News article here.

Villringer returns to raise family i

Lisa Villringer was born in Iron Mountain, MI, raised in Kingsford, MI and currently serves as the Human Resources Assistant at First National Bank & Trust (FNB&T) in Kingsford, MI. As a wife, mother of two and a full-time employee, Villringer also devotes her time to improving the community.  She has brought positive energy and

Manufacturing Day is October 12 in D

Education, community and industry partners are coming together to coordinate a Manufacturing Day event on Friday, October 12 at Bay College West Campus (Bay West) as a part of a campaign titled “Heavy Metal Tours.” The purpose of this campaign is to proactively educate students and the community about the skilled trades and technical career

Big Investment at Pine Mountain Reso

Under New Ownership, Four Seasons Resort to Reopen, Pine Mountain/Timberstone to Receive Multi-Million Dollar Renovations IRON MOUNTAIN With new ownership in place, an iconic Wisconsin resort is set to reopen after being closed for several years while a popular ski and golf resort in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will receive a multi-million dollar facelift. The Four

Support your local Healthcare System

It is important to support our local Healthcare System. Check out the DCHS Community Flyer to find out how you can help! DCHS is… – DCHS is a County not-for-profit Hospital. We receive no tax dollars through a local millage and our future depends on our Community staying local and utilizing the services we offer.

RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TARGET MARKET AN

Residential Housing Target Market Analysis Dickinson County Michigan 2016   Executive Summary Through a collaborative effort among public and private stakeholders, LandUse|USA has been engaged to conduct this Residential Target Market Analysis (TMA) for the Upper Peninsula Prosperity Regions 1a, 1b, and 1c. The West Region 1a includes six counties; the Central Region 1b includes

Dickinson County Healthcare System e

(Dickinson County, MI) The Leapfrog Group released its 2018 Spring Hospital Safety Grades and once again, Dickinson County Healthcare System (DCHS) has received an “A”.  The Hospital Safety Grade scores hospitals on how safe they keep their patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.  In “A” grade hospitals, patient safety is a top priority.  For

Loyal to Local Presentation

DICKINSON- On Tuesday, March 27, the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance hosted a Loyal to Local kick-off event. The event took place from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. at Bay College West Fornetti Hall in Iron Mountain. The Alliance’s Small Business Retention & Growth Committee has been working hard for numerous months, creating a plan to

The Alliance hosts Careers & Ch

DICKINSON- On Saturday, December 23, the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance will be hosting a Careers & Cheers event. It will take place from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Bimbo’s Wine Press in Iron Mountain. There is no cost to attend! The Alliance is inviting professionals that may be interested in moving back or currently

The Alliance Hires Director of Econo

Dickinson County – The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance  recently hired Lois Ellis as the Director of Economic Development. Ellis has an extensive background in Economic Development in the Upper Peninsula. Her experience in economic development started in 2002, when she was hired at the Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP). After 11 years at the

The LSCP and The Alliance Announce C

The Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) and Dickinson Area EDA (DAEDA) are pleased to announce the signing of a formal collaborative agreement between the two entities that will have the LSCP providing economic development services and support to the DAEDA staff and board of directors. “Our board and community stakeholders have worked diligently over the