quarterly community meetings

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✨ All are welcome! Whether you’re a community member, business owner, or local official, your input helps guide the next chapter of growth and opportunity in Iosco County.

📅 Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Sand Lake Community Center, 4059 Indian Lake Rd, National City, MI 48748
🍽 Hosted by Grant Township | Dinner provided by Up North Catering

Join Develop Iosco for our Q4 Community Meeting, an evening of updates, collaboration, and planning for the future of Iosco County. This countywide gathering brings together residents, community leaders, and partners to share progress, discuss new initiatives, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the region’s path forward.

The evening will feature:

• Iosco County Update
• Develop Iosco & Child Care Back Office Updates
• Community Engagement Session – help shape Develop Iosco’s next strategic initiatives
• Plenary Discussion: “Harnessing Collaboration to Drive Rural Prosperity” —      featuring Jennifer Rigterink of the Michigan Municipal League and Dakota Baker of the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, moderated by Jennifer Riggs, Executive Director of Develop Iosco

🎙️ Plenary Discussion

Harnessing Collaboration to Drive Rural Prosperity

Rural communities across Michigan are redefining what it means to grow and thrive. This plenary conversation will explore how collaboration, advocacy, and innovative partnerships can advance local economic priorities and create lasting impact in rural regions.

Featuring:

• Jennifer Rigterink, Assistant Director, State and Federal Affairs, Michigan      Municipal League (MML)
• Dakota Baker, Director, Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance
• Moderator: Jennifer Riggs, Executive Director, Develop Iosco

🗓 Thursday, September 11, 2025
📍 Warrior Pavilion, 6288 F41, Oscoda
🕘 Meeting: 9–11 AM | ☕Networking starts at 8:30

Presentation Highlights: SBA 101 – Programs & Services
✅ Free business counseling
💰 Access to capital for startups and existing businesses
🏛 Federal government contracting certifications
🌪 Disaster relief resources

🌟 PLUS:

• Meet our new Executive Director
• Updates from Oscoda Township & Iosco County
• NEMCOG Byways report
• DI Committee Spotlights: Child Care, Tourism, Grants

🎤 Featured Speaker: Brandon Adolph

Brandon Adolph is the Outreach & Marketing Specialist at the U.S. Small Business Administration's Michigan District Office (MDO) covering Genesee, Lake, Oakland and Washtenaw counties as well as the Northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula.

Adolph is charged with ecosystem building with chambers of commerce, downtown development authorities and economic development organizations.

Adolph joined the SBA in 2023 following a career in various marketing leadership roles. He is an alumnus of Eastern Michigan University where he received his B.B.A. and he holds a M.A. from Wayne State University.

Location:  IRESA,  27 N. Rempert, Tawas MI 48763

Program:

• Welcome/Networking 8:30 - 9 a.m.
• Main Program 9 - 10:30 a.m.
• Networking 10:30 - 11 a.m.

LOCAL SPEAKERS:  Christopher Martin, Baldwin Township Superintendent will share Baldwin updates; Jamie Cain, IRESA Superintendent will talk about their upcoming millage.

MAIN TOPIC:  Jobs - Upskill Your Workforce, Talent Attraction & Retention

FEATURED SPEAKERS: Darin Lomason, Director of Business Services, MI Works! Region 7B will highlight MI Works services to include:

• Incumbent Worker
  • Train someone who already works at your company
• OJT Program (on the job training)
  • Train someone new to your company
• Youth Program
  • 16-24 years old get to experience working at a business for 6 weeks while MiWorks! pays the youths wage
  • Mentorship program
• Business Services
  • Help with recruiting, resumes, the network, etc.
• Going Pro Talent Fund
  • Application to get grant funding for training current employees as well as new hires

DI will also share updates on childcare, tourism, and grants.   

Meeting Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU6DUJOdl0I

TOPIC: The Future of Healthcare in Iosco County

Location:  Whittemore Chamber of Commerce,  405 E. Sherman St., Whittemore 48770

Program:

• Welcome/Networking 8:30 - 11 a.m.
• Main Program 9 - 10:30 a.m.
• Networking 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Local Speaker:  Bob Leslie, Whittemore Mayor

Keynote Speaker: Mike Erickson,  President MyMichigan Health 

(Saginaw,  Standish & Tawas)

In August 2024, Mike was named President of MyMichigan Medical Centers in Saginaw, Standish, Tawas and Towne Center. Prior to that, Mike was the President of MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. Mike joined MyMichigan Health in 2008. He held prior roles as System Vice President, Professional Services as well as System Vice President, Support Services.

Prior to joining MyMichigan Health, Mike was with Catholic Health Initiatives from 1997-2008, where he held several positions of increasing scope with his final being Assistant Vice President at St. Joseph Medical Center located in Towson, Maryland. Prior to that, Mike was at Pekin Hospital located in Pekin, Illinois from 1994-1997 as Director of Clinical Engineering. Mike also served in the U.S. Army for 14 years, 5 active duty and 7 years reserve and national guard, receiving an honorable discharge.

Event article (and photo) by Dr. Manuela Kress:  https://www.iosconews.com/oscoda_press/news/article_caabf702-0412-11f0-8728-fb08434181e1.html