2021 Annual Report

PIVOTING FOR SUCCESS

Ten years ago, Lenawee Now focused on attracting businesses to the area and helping existing businesses stay and grow in Lenawee County. These efforts brought incredible economic growth to our community and have made us one of the best counties for small businesses in Michigan.

Before the pandemic, Lenawee Now realized that the needs of our employers were changing. Companies were presented with a workforce challenge as the resources they lacked changed from material to human. Our local employers struggled with growth because the workforce had drastically changed, making it hard to find people with the right skills and, for some positions, hard to find any people at all.

Several years ago Lenawee Now recognized this growing need and pivoted to refocus its efforts on workforce development. By collaborating with state and regional partners, Lenawee Now has gained access to new grant funding that will do more for our economy now and in the long term. We’ve been able to connect employees with employers through career events, help students learn more about local career opportunities, and provide resources for employers to connect with educators and other workforce organizations.

Lenawee Now is dedicated to the success of our economy, which not only includes employers but also employees, students, and residents. We’ve seen tremendous transformation, growth, and resiliency from our community and our team as we pivot to address new, emerging challenges. Together, Lenawee Now is driving this community and its economy to a stronger, more resilient future.

DOUGLAS KAPNICK CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

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LENAWEE NOW HAS PIVOTED TO SUPPORT THE SHORT- AND LONGTERM NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE AND EMPLOYERS, WHICH HAS LED TO AN INCREASE IN GRANT FUNDING AND THE CREATION OF NEW AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH WITHIN OUR OWN ORGANIZATION.”

ADAPTING FOR GROWTH

As the world has continued to change and evolve, Lenawee Now has adapted to fit the needs of employers and municipalities. In the past two years, the local, national, and global economy has dramatically shifted and changed the economic landscape in Lenawee County. This has led Lenawee Now to change its approach to economic development.

Lenawee Now has pivoted to support the short- and long-term needs of the local workforce and employers, which has led to an increase in grant funding and the creation of new and exciting opportunities for growth within this organization. Our team’s collaborative efforts with other community organizations are helping close the talent gap, strengthen the talent pipeline, and support local businesses.

We continue to partner with the Detroit Regional Partnership and the Greater Ann Arbor Region to assist with attracting large businesses to our area while we focus on empowering local entrepreneurs and helping our mid-size and large businesses expand.

Our focus remains on helping local businesses fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and build resiliency for future challenges so that the economy, employers, and residents can continue to grow and thrive. Driving economic opportunity through our workforce development partnerships, entrepreneurial support programs, and business retention and expansion support services will ensure that Lenawee County remains strong for future generations.

JAMES VAN DOREN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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SUCCESSES

THE MARKS TRADING COMPANY

Evolving from a local farmer’s market to shipping orders nationwide, The Marks Trading Company has worked closely with Lenawee Now to receive assistance and mentorship through the Square One competition, Launch Lenawee, and, most recently, the LION Fund. In 2021, the LION Fund investors helped The Marks Trading Company secure funding, scale, and fill a large purchase order, allowing them to now offer their products in local Meijers.

ADRIAN DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE

The LION Fund, established for entrepreneurs and start-ups, made an equity investment into the Adrian Development Collaborative for the purchase and redevelopment of the former Telegram site in downtown Adrian. Though the site will see significant redevelopment in the coming months, it will ultimately be used for apartment and/or multi-family housing.

KIWANIS CONNECTOR

Lenawee Now facilitated meetings and resources that led to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s $3.5 million funding authorization to build a tunnel under M52 in Adrian to link the current southern endpoint of the Kiwanis Trail to the trail’s new east side extension. The private/public partnership requests for funding through Lenawee Now will unite our communities while offering a safer connection point for those using the trail.

Photo by David Panian

03 AGRICULTURE $1M 1 PROJECT MANUFACTURING $50K 3 PROJECTS EDUCATION $2.49M 2 PROJECTS SERVICE $900K 8 PROJECTS RETAIL $86K 5 PROJECTS PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE $436K 1 PROJECT 2021 INVESTMENTS

EDA GRANT

After a competitive 15-month application process, Lenawee Now and Hillsdale Economic Development Partnership received a $658,560 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant which, when matched with $164,640 in local funds, is being used to help local Lenawee and Hillsdale businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and build resilience for future interruptions. With this grant, business leaders connect with professional consultants to identify challenges, design impactful solutions, and create a stronger business community.

HANG LOOSE BOUTIQUE

When the pandemic halted Hang Loose Boutique’s consistent growth, they reached out to Lenawee Now for assistance. Through the USDA Rural Business Development Grant, Sheila Blair was able to help Hang Loose Boutique implement a point-ofsale computer system into their business to improve inventory, checkout, accounting, and offer Hang Loose more time to focus on growth once again.

I AM SO GRATEFUL LENAWEE NOW HAD THE USDA GRANT TO HELP ME. THEIR CONSULTANTS HAVE HELPED ME UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OWNING A BUSINESS SO I HAD A COMPLETE PICTURE BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS. THEY HELPED GIVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO PURSUE MY BUSINESS VENTURE.”

654 JOBS MAINTAINED

52 JOBS CREATED $4,971,239 PRIVATE INVESTMENT $1,557,694 INCOME $46.17 2017-2021 ROI

9 ATTRACTIONS

52 EXPANSIONS $207,585,156 TOTAL INVESTMENTS 2017-21

18 STARTUPS 6.71 AVERAGE JOB CREATION PER PROJECT 04

Photo by Beth Jessee – ERIN BROWN, OWNER OF JASPER FEED & MORE IN JASPER, MI

COLLABORATION

The Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) focuses on the same key industries that support Lenawee’s local economy. Lenawee Now is the recipient of a $169,000 Michigan Industry Cluster Approach (MICA) grant through LEO, which also is supporting the governor’s Sixty by 30 certificate program. This is another program in which Lenawee Now and the Align Lenawee Talent Consortium is involved.

In 2021, Lenawee Now began collaborating with local businesses to receive funding from the Economic Development Administration to help recover from COVID-19 disruptions. Consumers Energy Foundation assisted Lenawee Now with matching funds for these grants, which allowed us to serve more local companies. Additionally, we assisted 16 local women-, minority-, and veteranowned businesses source solutions for emerging growth challenges.

Lenawee Now and Michigan

Works! Southeast have continued to partner to make efficient use of federal funds for job training. We also collaborate on how to build the local and regional workforce talent pipeline through industry collaborations, resources for students, and more.

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Lenawee Now and the Align Talent Consortium are collaborating to engage local school districts by utilizing career technical education funds to assist students in developing a career path. Many students graduate from high school without a concrete plan to enter the military, go to college, or begin a career. Together, we are reaching students through online conferences, in-person navigator meetings, job skill certification development, and informational videos about local industries and developmental programs.

The Marshall Plan funding continues to enable Lenawee Now to create work skill certifications with Adrian College, Siena Heights University, and the Lenawee Intermediate School District. As employers utilize higher technologies, certifications are becoming essential in securing employment. Nine certification programs are currently being built as our higher education partners and K-12 school districts set educational and training systems to benefit students before they enter the workforce.

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ALIGN UPDATE

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

As Align Lenawee continually works to proactively address challenges with the local talent pipeline, new programs are developed to meet the needs of our school districts and employers.

The Marshall Plan Certification Program seeks to resolve talent pipeline issues by offering experiential learning opportunities at a foundational level for middle school students, specialized education for high school students, and certifications for adults.

By participating in the Marshall Plan Program, students gain experience and knowledge that will ignite a passion, foster exploration, and help them make decisions about their future careers. It’s crucial to create this foundation of learning at a young age and develop it through middle and high school so once students are ready to enter the workforce, they will have the soft and hard skills they need to succeed.

The adult certification program is a great opportunity for those looking to enter the workforce without a degree, postpone advanced education, or are interested in a career change.

In 2021, the Marshall Plan tracks included accounting, cyber security, entrepreneurship, and project management. In 2022, we will add web development, applied computing, IT/data management, healthcare, digital marketing, early childhood education, and future teachers. These offer students new opportunities to explore even more career avenues.

MEET OUR CHAMPIONS

Marshall Plan tracks are championed by industry experts who have decades of employment and teaching experience, certifications, publications, and more. These experiences help them develop our certifications to be informational, effective, and applicable to the skills needed in the workforce today.

Addison Hutchison Cybersecurity

Addison Hutchison is the Chief Technology Officer at Hutchison Technologies and the Cybersecurity Champion for the Marshall Plan Certification Program. Addison uses his industry certifications, advanced expertise, and hands-on IT experience to help develop the skills and talent of youth and adults interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity.

Nicholle Mehr Project Management

Nicholle Mehr is a senior healthcare executive who has served in various healthcare roles in hospitals, logistics, and the private equity sector. Nicholle serves as Champion for the Project Management and Healthcare tracks of the Marshall Plan and is the President and CEO of The MehrGroup.

Rhonda Wingfield Entrepreneurship

Rhonda has been passionate about entrepreneurship for decades, having owned and operated several small businesses in Lenawee County herself. She was also the CEO of the Rocket Innovation $10M Venture Fund where she helped many entrepreneurs create, value, and fund viable businesses.

Today, Rhonda is a Professor of Accounting and Finance at Siena Heights University, serves on the Advisory Board of Launch Lenawee, and is the Entrepreneurship Champion for the Marshall Plan Certification Program.

Donna Baker Accounting

Donna Baker is the founder of Donna Baker & Associates in Adrian, an Associate Professor of Accounting, Business, and Economics at Adrian College, and serves as the Chair of their MS in Accountancy Program. Donna draws from her 30 years of experience to influence her mentorship role as the Accounting Champion for the Marshall Plan Certification Program.

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ALIGN IS THE PROGRAM I THINK OF FIRST WHEN I THINK OF TALENT IN THE COMMUNITY. AS AN EMPLOYER OF MORE THAN 300 EMPLOYEES, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ALIGN AND HOW CRUCIAL THESE SERVICES ARE, NOT ONLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE SERVICES PROVIDED, BUT THE EMPLOYERS IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.”

– BEN NEGRON, DIRECTOR ADRIAN MEIJER

EXTERNSHIPS

In 2021, Lenawee Now, in partnership with the Lenawee Intermediate School District, developed and launched the Teacher/Counselor Externship program to address growing talent pipeline concerns from a new angle. Through this program, educators connect with local businesses to learn how classroom content and learning strategies are applied in the workplace. They are then able to enrich their student’s curriculum with soft skills needed by local employers. Educators will also be able to more effectively mentor students with a greater understanding of local job opportunities and pathways.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT

Employers in Lenawee County are finding new ways to offer enticing benefits to their employees, one of which is tuition reimbursement. Tuition reimbursement is a tax-deductible way for employers to pay workers to further their education and progress their careers. Lenawee Now is promoting this benefit to local employers as a way to attract dedicated talent and encourage professional development.

CAREER CON 2

Career Con is an annual event designed to educate students on the importance of intentional preparation for the workforce. In 2021, this program was adjusted to be available virtually and included an informative presentation, career tips, a downloadable workbook, and a featured appearance from motivational speaker Chris Czarnik.

CHEMICAL COLLABORATION

One of the impactful endeavors of 2020 and 2021 was the chemical industry collaboration through the Michigan Industry Cluster Approach (MICA) program. Lenawee Now applied and was accepted to receive funding that was used to bring together employers, educators, the workforce, and partners to formulate solutions to fill identified talent gaps and create targeted solutions to meet the workforce needs of today and tomorrow.

This collaboration began in December 2019 and will continue through April 2022, offering participants industry- and employer-specific certification and preparation for employment in the chemical industry.

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NEW FACES

MARY TOMMELEIN

Mary Tommelein is serving as a Career Navigator for Align Lenawee and chairs the Future Michigan Educator Certificate as part of the Marshall Plan. Mary has worked as a counselor for Tecumseh Public Schools and the LISD TECH Center and JC/ LISD Academy. Designing programming and creative ways to address student needs are strengths that Mary brings to the table. Prior to becoming a counselor she was a high school educator. Her BA and MA are from Eastern Michigan University where she currently serves as an adjunct professor. Mary looks forward to creating opportunities within our county that will grow and diversify the educator workforce as well as reduce educator shortages.

SHEILA BLAIR

Sheila Blair joined the Align Lenawee Talent Consortium team in 2021 as the Program Manager. She has spent the prior 20 years in workforce development in Metro Detroit, working with returning citizens, chronically unemployed, executive leaders, and everyone in between. Sheila also serves as the navigator for the Michigan Industry Cluster Approach (MICA) Chemical Collaborative and developed curriculum for the Marshall Plan Project Management Workgroup.

CHUCK CHASE

Chuck Chase, Consultant to the Align Talent Consortium since January of 2020, has extensive experience in the manufacturing sector having spent 30 years with Masco Cabinetry (formerly Merillat Industries, Inc.). During that time, he specialized in human resource management and executive recruiting. He also trained in leadership, sales, marketing, and design. At Lenawee Now, Chuck is responsible for furthering the development of the Align Talent Pipeline. Chuck leads the Teacher/ Counselor Externship Program and the Marshall Plan certification program, developing curriculum that results in stackable credentials and certificates.

SKY ELY

Sky joined Lenawee Now as the Marketing Coordinator in 2021. She graduated from Adrian College with degrees in Marketing and Graphic Design. As the Marketing Coordinator, Sky is involved in various functions of communications including blog posts, campaigns, social media, and design.