Small manufacturers in Southeast Michigan tackling the COVID 19 pandemic and located in underserved or underutilized areas will be getting a major boost thanks to the work of the Manufacturing Growth Alliance (MGA) and funding from the DTE Energy Foundation.
MGA will help second stage companies in HUB or Opportunity Zones in Wayne, Oakland, and Monroe counties, not only survive the pandemic, but plan for future success. The program takes a three-pronged approach helping companies recover from the pandemic with specific plans and services, helps manage workforce needs, and prepares companies for business expansion opportunities.
MGA is part of Kinexus Group, a statewide economic, workforce, and innovation nonprofit that works with hundreds of Michigan employers to build strong and lead smart.
MGA is committed to supporting small manufacturers in all of Michigan's 83 counties. There are many communities across that state that have underutilized business zones or lack business growth.
Michigan has 752 HUB Zones, which are historically underutilized business areas, and 288 Opportunity Zones, which are in low income communities and sometimes lack capital and other resources. About 52 percent of HUB Zones reside in Wayne, Oakland, or Monroe counties, with the three counties representing about 44 percent of opportunity zones.
The services that will be provided under the “Strengthening Manufacturing Industry Program” are below:
Industry specific services designed to keep small manufacturers in business that encompasses a post-COVID 19 Manufacturers Guide. The guide includes a preparedness and response guide and a variety of MGA services.
Workforce management services which will include a series of virtual seminars, strategies to attract and retain talent, and employee communications initiatives for traditional and digital channels.
A series of workshops on how to create new or revised business expansion plans and how to prepare for future growth.
MGA will be hosting quarterly peer to peer roundtables with manufacturers that will feature experienced small business growth experts to facilitate the discussions.
Please contact Jenn Deamud, Executive Director, Manufacturing Growth Alliance, if you would like to hear more about the program. Jenn@MGAlliance.org or 616.617.7467.