Business Retention & Expansion
- Workforce Training
Obtain grants for training employees and locate training sources in conjunction with Montcalm Community College and the regional Workforce Development Board.
- Small Business Classes
Offer classes for new and established businesses.
- Business Financing
Assist with tax abatement process (PA 198) and other local, state and federal financing options such as Small Business Administration 504.
- Small Business Consultation
Provide consultation for startups and growing businesses.
- Benchmarking for Manufacturers
Provide Consultation for startups and growing businesses through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
- Technical Assistance
Seek and recommend sources of technical assistance (Marketing, etc.)
Local Economic Development Assistance
- Community Issues Forum
Pull together groups as necessary to discuss problems and seek solutions in use, downtown development, etc.
- Grants
Assist local communities and governmental units in obtaining infrastructure grants.
- Transportation Planning
Assist with coordinating transportation improvements for businesses and communities.
Information Resources
- Data
Provide economic/demographic information to business and government.
Available Land/Buildings
- Information
Provide information on available commercial sites, industrial land and buildings available in the County.
Business Attraction
- Serve as 'Front Door' to Ionia County for location inquiries (Michigan Economic Development Corporation).
- Pursue leads to attract industry to Ionia County sites.
- Assist Units of Government with attraction efforts - brochures, site development.
- Market and promote Renaissance Zone & Brownfield Redevelopment programs.
Accomplishments
The ICEA prides itself in its accomplishments in recent years. To see what the ICEA has done for the community please click here.
Strategic Plan
The strategic plan developed by the ICEA was created for three main purposes:
- Increase awareness of ICEA and its services among key economic development stakeholders in Ionia County, the state and region.
- Retention and expansion of businesses.
- Attraction and development of new businesses.
For the full document on the strategic plan for the Ionia County Economic Alliance please click here.
WIRED
The seven county West Michigan region was one of 13 regions in the country to receive a $15 million grant earlier this year to collaborate on regional workforce and economic development innovations. The West Michigan Strategic Alliance announced its initiative called WIRED--Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development.
Click here to enter the West Michigan WIRED webpage.