upcoming Community meeting information

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Develop Iosco hosts quarterly Community Meetings for business owners, community members, government representatives, and other interested parties.  These meetings will include updates from Iosco County communities about ongoing economic development activities as well as updates from Develop Iosco regarding projects.  A guest speaker will also be included on topics pertinent to business owners. Virtual and in-person attendance options will be provided. 

Meetings are scheduled the second Thursday of the month quarterly in March, June,  September and December. Doors to open at 8:30, and the program to be conducted from 9 - 11:00 am

To suggest a topic or speaker for a community meeting, please email contact@develop-iosco.org. 

September 14  hosted by Charter Township of Oscoda/ Oscoda-Wurtsmith  Airport  Authority

Location: Warrior Pavilion,  6288 F41, Oscoda MI 48750 

Featured Speaker:  Various Topics (see details below)

Local Speaker:  Brenda McNeill, Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority

The meeting highlights of speakers and topics are as follows:

· Brenda McNeill, Property & Administrative Manager at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority, will share information about new initiatives at OWAA that impact growth in Oscoda and the surrounding communities.

· Christopher Martin, the new Director of Business Services & Economic Development for Iosco County, will share his vision for Iosco County and his experiences that led him to be unanimously selected by Develop Iosco and Michigan Works! Region 7B to serve in this new collaborative role between the two organizations.

· Richard L. Douglass, co-principal investigator from the Rural Healthcare Group, will discuss a new research project “Assessment of Need for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation for Underserved, Vulnerable Aging Residents of Iosco County, Michigan” with the Central Michigan University School of Medicine, Region 9 Area Agency on Aging, and Northeast Michigan Community Services Agency (NEMCSA). Hear about the ‘why’ behind the upcoming research project related to the urgent need for non-emergency medical transportation in our community. Significant economic development opportunities tied to this issue are anticipated.

· Chris Scharrer, DCS Technology Design consultant for Iosco County, will provide an update about the High-Speed Internet Expansion project to increase access to unserved and underserved residents through the recent ROBIN grant with Point Broadband.

· Gloria Brooks, President of DI and Co-Chair of the Quad Counties Childcare Coalition, will provide an update about the Coalition’s work during the past six months to identify the barriers delaying access to childcare in Iosco, Arenac, Alcona and Ogemaw counties. This update is a preliminary report ahead of the final findings expected to be released in November 2023.

You can find the ZOOM MEETING LINK on our homepage.

December 14 @ City of East Tawas 

East Tawas Community Center, 760 Newman St., East Tawas MI 48730

TOPIC:  Economic Development 101: Lessons Learned & New Opportunities

Featured Speaker:   Justin Horvath, Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership

Local Speaker:  Brent Barringer, East Tawas City Manager

In addition to being our annual meeting, this event will be a DI fundraiser/breakfast. 

March 16 @ Burleigh Township

Whittemore Chamber Hall, 405 E Sherman St., Whittemore MI 48770 

Registration & Networking 8:30 - 9 am

Program 9 - 11am

TOPIC:  High Speed Internet in Iosco County

Featured Speaker:  Chris Scharrer, CEO of DCS Technology Design LLC and project consultant for Iosco County’s High Speed Internet Committee 

Local Speaker: Bob Leslie, Whittemore Mayor

At our community meeting on March 16, Chris Scharrer (DCS Technology) outlined the status of his work as the project consultant for Iosco County’s High Speed Internet Project. 

June 8 @ Plainfield Township

Eagle Pointe Plaza, 415 E. Main St., Hale MI 48739

TOPIC:  NEMCOG annual report and its impact in Iosco County

Featured Speaker:  Doug Baum, NEMCOG Executive Director

Local Speaker:  Fred Lewis, Plainfield Township Supervisor

RSVP: contact@develop-iosco.info