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iosco county's economic development organization
DI In the news
DEVELOP IOSCO RECEIVES CONSUMERS ENERGY FOUNDATION GRANT
March 27, 2023
For Immediate Release:
IOSCO COUNTY, MICH. –– Develop Iosco (DI) has received a $2000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation which further enables DI to advance their mission which is to promote economic development in Iosco County.
Gloria Brooks, President of the Board of Directors emphasized that the "Consumers Energy Foundation has been a strong partner to Develop Iosco during the past two years. It previously funded the Marketing Blueprint community survey in February 2022, which helped DI prioritize its community projects."
The $2,000 grant is timely in that DI has recently begun asking governmental organizations, businesses and individuals to financially invest in DI so that they would have the resources to do more for Iosco residents, namely hire an Executive Director.
Brooks further stated that "We look forward to leveraging this grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation to successfully complete our community initiatives in 2023, including countywide tourism, small businesses vendor opportunities through the DI Winter Market, and increased collaboration between residents, county and local leaders, and community organizations."
“We thrive as a state when every community has the resources that they need to support local businesses, promote opportunity, and invest in their people,” said Carolyn Bloodworth, secretary/treasurer of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “The Consumers Energy Foundation is proud to provide this grant to help Develop Iosco in their work to further those goals.”
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. The Foundation contributes to the growth and strengthening of Michigan communities by investing in what’s most important — our people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. In 2022, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than $18.5 million to Michigan nonprofits.
DI is a 501-(c)-(3) nonprofit volunteer organization serving as a convener and facilitator for economic development activities within Iosco County related to business development. As an economic development organization, DI promotes Iosco County as a place for business growth to improve the quality of life for current and new residents.
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DEVELOP IOSCO AWARDED REGIONAL CHILD CARE PLANNING GRANT
March 10, 2023
For Immediate Release:
IOSCO COUNTY, MICH. –– The Early Childhood Investment Corporation’s (ECIC) – Child Care Innovation Fund has awarded a Regional Child Care Planning Grant to Develop Iosco (DI) in the amount of $150,000. The grant enables DI to facilitate a newly formed four-county Regional Child Care Planning Coalition which includes Alcona, Arenac, Iosco and Ogemaw Counties. This announcement follows Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s statewide announcement earlier today.
“Develop Iosco believes that a diverse coalition of individuals will create a stronger solution to the child care dilemma in our four-county area,” stated Gloria Brooks, President of DI’s Board of Directors. “We are excited to have been selected to bring these grant dollars to the communities and develop solutions for working families”. This is the first time DI has successfully applied and received state grant dollars of this size of a grant award.
The Coalition includes parent and grandparent primary caregivers and child care provider representatives from across the County. Other coalition members also include NEMSCA, Bay-Arenac Intermediate School District, Hale Area Schools, Plainfield and Oscoda Townships, MIWorks! Region 7B offices from Iosco, Arenac, Ogemaw and Alcona, and Iosco County government.
The 18-month grant period will focus on better understanding the needs of families with children age 12 and younger and learn new ways to expand access to child care including 2nd and 3rdshift and weekend care availability. The Regional Child Care Planning project is supported by funding provided from the Michigan Department of Education within the Caring for MI Future initiative, utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Develop Iosco will facilitate the Coalition meetings and coordinate data collection leading to a roadmap for the implementation of the plan by June 30, 2024. Community meetings will be held to keep working families, employers and others informed of the project’s progress and to provide feedback on potential solutions.
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Gov. Whitmer Announces Grants to Help Communities Expand Access to Low or No-Cost Child Care
Investments will benefit children, families, and small businesses in 81 counties, every region
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2023
Contact: press@michigan.gov
LANSING, MI. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that 16 organizations serving Michiganders in 81 counties are receiving $2.4 million in Regional Child Care Planning Grants from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation’s (ECIC) Child Care Innovation Fund, helping them expand child care options, serving more families, and lowering costs for parents.
“Child care is the backbone of our economy,” said Governor Whitmer. “Access to quality, affordable child care supports parents as they work, ensures kids have the support they need to grow into their best selves, and helps businesses hire, recruit, and retain talent. To achieve these big goals, we need everyone to pitch in. Today, I’m proud to announce that 16 organizations across the state are stepping up to make child care more affordable and accessible for Michiganders in 81 counties and every region of the state. Together, we will build on our vision to ensure every family has access to child care that meets their needs.”
16 Regional Child Care Planning Grant recipients will each receive $150,000. The grantees, by MEDC Region, are:
· Region 1: Upper Peninsula - UPWARD Talent Council
· Region 2: Northwest - Networks Northwest
· Region 3: Northeast - Northeast Michigan Council of Governments
· Region 3: Northeast - Develop Iosco, Inc.
· Region 4: West Michigan- The Right Place, Inc. & Vibrant Futures
· Region 4: West Michigan - United Way of the Lakeshore
· Region 4: West Michigan - Ottawa Area Intermediate School District.
· Region 5: East Central Michigan - Middle Michigan Development Corporation.
· Region 6: East Michigan - Flint and Genesee Chamber Foundation
· Region 6: East Michigan - Huron County Economic Development Corporation.
· Region 7: South Central - Lansing Economic Area Partnership
· Region 8: Southwest - Pulse @ W.E. Upjohn Institute of Employment Research
· Region 9: Southeast Michigan - Lenawee Economic Development Corporation.
· Region 9: Southeast Michigan - Ann Arbor SPARK
· Region 10: Detroit Metro - Macomb County Planning and Economic Development
· Region 10: Detroit Metro - IFF & Hope Starts Here
“This is an exciting time as for the first time ever, in many communities across Michigan, economic development leaders are coming together with early childhood leaders to work alongside municipalities and major employers on solving their community’s child care crisis,” said Dawne Bell, CEO of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation. “We are so thankful for this investment from the MI Dept. of Education and our strategic partnership with MEDC to be able to support regions across Michigan to accelerate investments in child care.”
“Vibrant Futures and The Right Place are thrilled to be teaming up for this game-changing opportunity to lead the regional planning in the western region,” says Chana Edmond-Verley, CEO of Vibrant Futures. “We know that child care is an essential and strategic component to 21st century talent efforts, especially when the aim is business attraction. Business growth is simply stifled without it. The regional planning effort will prove to be a gateway to increased child care supply, and economic alignment; and a critical accelerator for all Michigan families needing child care to get to work.”
Caring for MI Future
ECIC received $12.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding in August, awarded by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) as part of Caring for MI Future— a $100 million investment to help more Michigan families find quality, affordable child care in their community. Today, too many communities do not have enough child care options to meet demand. To respond, the state is investing $100 million to dramatically increase access to child care across the state and open 1,000 new, or expanded, child care programs by the end of 2024. This strategy responds to the most pressing needs facing child care entrepreneurs and creates sustainable systems to support the current and next generation of child care business owners.
To learn more about Caring for MI Future, visit www.michigan.gov/caringformifuture.
About ECIC
Created in 2005 to serve as a statewide leader in early childhood, ECIC collaborates to increase public and private investment in the earliest years, elevate issues affecting young children and their families, and continuously improve Michigan’s comprehensive early childhood system. Our aim is to create a future where all young children in Michigan and their families thrive. To learn more about ECIC and the Child Care Innovation Fund, please visit ecic4kids.org.
Through the Regional Child Care Planning Grant, ECIC, in partnership with MDE and MEDC, will bring economic development, employers, municipalities, parents, and early childhood leaders together in regional coalitions to understand child care facilities and workforce needs and develop a plan that meets the needs and preferences of working families, and address Michigan’s pressing need for high-quality, affordable child care.
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13 HYDRO DAM COMMUNITIES CALL ON GOVERNOR WHITMER TO INVEST IN MICHIGAN'S RIVER HYDROELECTRIC RESOUR
February 22, 2023
For Immediate Release:
IOSCO COUNTY, MICH. –– Today, Develop Iosco, Inc. joins dozens of Michigan organizations, local government officials, and residents in releasing an open letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The letter calls on the governor to turn her clean-energy policy into practice by investing in hydroelectric power.
Fred Lewis, president of the Iosco Exploration Trail and chair of Develop Iosco’s Hydroelectric Dams Response Team, says the governor’s signature MI Healthy Climate Plan omits any mention of Michigan’s river hydroelectric power resources. “The lack of a river hydro strategy is not consistent with recommendations from both environmental advocacy groups and the hydro industry to ramp up hydropower’s role in a clean energy future. They agree that new technology means hydro dams can and should provide climate-ready, river-friendly power.”
Develop Iosco is one of a handful of groups responding to Consumers Energy’s announcement concerning possible removal of its 13 Michigan hydroelectric dams. Their letter calls on Governor Whitmer to work with the company to protect the dams. The groups point out that not only is dam removal contrary to Michigan’s ambitious clean-energy goals, but it would also remove recreational waters and related dollars that anchor local economies.
Read the full letter to Governor Whitmer below.
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