UP businesses added to Pure Michigan pilot program
Several Upper Michigan businesses are among 54 small and midsize companies from around Michigan selected to receive business development support.
It’s through the Pure Michigan “Business Connect” Economic Gardening pilot program and is part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. It’s called economic gardening because the goal is to create new jobs.
The 54 companies were selected by an independent review board from a pool of 108 nominees. Each company’s CEO will be paired with a Strategic Research Team for a total of 35 hours spread across all four members of the team. The team works with the CEO to determine the specific areas of need and then supplies the CEO with relevant and actionable information about their competitors, markets and customers. Each company engagement is expected to take a total of two to three weeks to complete.
The pilot program is the latest addition to Pure Michigan Business Connect, the $3 billion public-private initiative that provides Michigan’s businesses new ways to buy and sell, raise capital, and connect with each other through an alliance of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, state agencies and major Michigan companies and organizations. Visit here for more information on Pure Michigan Business Connect.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a public-private partnership serving as the state’s marketing arm and lead agency for business, talent and jobs, focuses on helping grow Michigan’s economy. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: MichiganAdvantage.org.
Economic Gardening Pilot Program Companies:
Andex, Escanaba – Manufacture thermoformed and printed packaging. www.andex.net
Argonics, Gwinn – Manufacture a variety of products out of polyurethane.
Creative Composites, Rapid River – Design, develop, engineer, prototype and manufacture advanced composite structures and lightweight composite armor systems. www.creativecompositsinc.com
Superior Extrusion, Gwinn – Produce custom and standard aluminum extruded shapes. Also offer a variety of secondary fabrication operations for the shapes we produce. www.superiorextrusion.com
VanAire, Inc., Gladstone – Manufacture valve automation hardware for the pulp paper, food, chemical, oil and gas industries and wastewater treatment systems for the food, oil and gas industries. www.vanaireinc.com and accessories. www.hotset.com