May 30, 2017 The Honorable Geoff Hansen, Chair Senate K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee Michigan Senate P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909 Dear Senator Hansen, We are writing to you today to ask for your support in increasing funding for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programming in Michigan’s schools as part of the K-12 education omnibus…
Credit Analyst Venture North Funding & Development Venture North is a division of the umbrella organization TraverseCONNECT, which also encompasses the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and TConn, a for-profit development division. Venture North is a nonprofit organization dedicated to leading economic development initiatives by providing financial services and business assistance to the Northwest…
Here’s the newest graduating class of Leadership Grand Traverse, including their professional affiliations: Bryson Wilbert – 4Front Credit Union Tyler Bevier – Bay Area Transportation Authority Kathryn Grinsteiner – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Kevin Perkins – Coldwell Banker Brandon Darin – Grotenhuis Chad Schenkelberger – Hagerty Center NMC Eric Henry – Munson Medical…
Image 360 has evolved significantly since it was launched as Signs Now some 27 years ago. Andrew started working at Signs Now when he was still in high school, before he and Amy purchased the business in 2008. “We changed the focus of the company to work on more unique projects and larger scope projects,”…
Being part of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce has always been an easy business decision for Bill Hemming, owner of Walters & Hemming Plumbing and Heating in downtown Traverse City. The business, founded by his grandfather Charles Hemming in 1926 after he returned from World War I, has been part of the Chamber…
How many things in life go exactly as planned on the first try? Not many. It’s why phrases like “trial and error” and “don’t give up” are familiar themes in most people’s personal and professional experiences. Successful endeavors are often built on a foundation of failed circumstances. There’s an endless list of life situations where…
Chamber representatives from Traverse City and across the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance had a full agenda of meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday this week with state lawmakers to push for their 2017-18 legislative priorities. Issues being addressed included: • Transformational brownfield funding – the Thrive Michigan bill package to create new state tax incentives to…
In a series of meetings with legislators and staff in Washington D.C. in March, the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance urged legislators to reinstate $300 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) – a program that infuses Michigan’s shoreline and water alone with over $100 million dollars in contamination clean up and invasive…
The Issue One of the hallmark advocacy policies for the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance has been the push to close the funding equity gap in per pupil funding school districts around the state receive in the state budget. Historically, the Alliance has advocated for the 2x formula – where school districts receiving the minimum per…
A Michigan Senate committee passed a bill this spring to repeal the Post Labor Day School Start law that has meant millions of additional tourism dollars and thousands of additional room nights to northern Michigan. The bill – SB 271 – could be up for a full vote in the Senate in the near future,…