What We Do
Our Mission:
Our Methods:
To preserve existing jobs and foster the creation of more jobs for our citizens and more tax revenue for our communities. To support and collaborate with initiatives to improve the quality of life for all Lenawee County citizens thus making Lenawee County the choice for new and existing business growth.
Lenawee Now functions as a project coordinator for both the communities we support and the companies we serve. Our efforts can be fairly simple, such as compiling information for a company to use in its decision making, or as involved as full project management for large company attractions / expansions.
This can include everything from:
• Connecting clients to proper resources
• Working with clients and or their site selectors to help determine a location for a project
• Managing the incentive paperwork and process
• Advising entrepreneurs on the process to create and grow a business
• Making presentations to key public and private decision makers
• Assist companies in finding and securing financing
• Recruitment of Talent and training efforts
When companies apply for local or state incentives, they fill out applications that require both job creation and investment estimates. Lenawee Now considers these projects a success after they are publicly announced or when the required approval process has taken place for the incentive sought by the company.
Our jobs and investment numbers are based on these project announcements provided by the companies. Whatever role we might play, we report jobs and investments for projects where we have played an active role in helping a company decide to move forward.
Executive Director Update
As we reflect on the progress made in Lenawee County, it is clear that our commitment to development and community enhancement is yielding positive results. This report highlights several key projects that are shaping the future of our downtown area and beyond.
Firstly, the Park House development continues to be a focal point of revitalization, with significant advancements being made. Adrian is diligently overseeing the new Bixby project, where the demolition of existing structures has been completed. We are excited to announce that construction will soon commence on 63 new homes, which will not only provide housing but also stimulate economic growth in the area.
In a noteworthy development, Plane Wave Instruments has successfully acquired a software company, a strategic move that will significantly expand their operations and capabilities. This acquisition is expected to enhance the technological landscape within our region.
Looking ahead, Lenawee Now is set to conduct another familiarization tour in June, inviting national site selectors to explore the opportunities that Lenawee County has to offer. This initiative is crucial in attracting new businesses and investments to our community.
Additionally, we are collaborating with the Addison Fire Department to explore the optimal use of their fire hall located on US 12. This partnership underscores our commitment to maximizing community resources and infrastructure.
The Align Center for Workforce Development is making impressive strides as well. We recently had the honor of hosting Congressman Walberg for a tour, during which he expressed enthusiasm about our progress. In January we will start training in flooring, plumbing and HVAC at the US 12 facility and continue to build partnerships with numerous educational partners. We are aiming to occupy the new building by May 1st of this year, further solidifying our efforts in workforce development.
Lastly, our ongoing collaboration with lobbyists in Lansing aims to secure additional funding for our riverfront improvement project, which is poised to enhance our community’s recreational and aesthetic appeal.
Overall, Lenawee County is experiencing a wave of positive developments, with several businesses, actively planning new projects. Together, these initiatives reflect the vibrant growth and potential of our community.
Community Report Card 2019-2023
Please join us as we celebrate the successes of the last five years of our collaborative economic development efforts in Lenawee County.
Call Program
The Call Program is a core economic development strategy that involves proactively outreaching and engaging with our existing employer base to determine where they face opportunities and challenges. These calls allow us to:
• Gather information about local businesses that can be aggregated to reveal trends
• Determine valuable resources that can assist in the client’s development
• Identify growth projects that require assistance
• Serve as an ombudsman between businesses and government
Proactive outreach helps companies address challenges before they become problems, supports their continued growth and helps them see that our area is invested in their success. Companies go where they are wanted and stay where they are appreciated.
Social Media Analytics
As of December 31, 2024
The number of times a post or story showed up in different users’ feeds throughout its lifetime.
Number of times that users engaged (liked, commented, shared, etc.) with a post during its lifetime.
Press Releases
Lenawee Now, Hillsdale Economic Development Partnership Announce Second Cohort of the Lenawee/Hillsdale Lean Rocket Local Fellows Program
Adrian, MI – December 13, 2024
Lenawee Now and the Hillsdale Economic Development Partnership will launch the second cohort of the Lenawee/Hillsdale Lean Rocket LOCAL Fellows Program in March 2025. This cohort-style business boot camp is open to 12 local business owners from Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties. To qualify, candidates must have a revenue-generating business and complete an application form. Selected participants will pitch their businesses to a panel as part of the program.
The Lean Rocket LOCAL program, originally established by Jackson’s Lean Rocket Lab, aims to eliminate common barriers faced by entrepreneurs. Through this cohort, business owners gain access to expert training, financial assistance, and a supportive entrepreneurial community. Fellows receive in-depth instruction on key business fundamentals, including accounting, sales, and marketing, provided by regional business experts. Thanks to a partnership with American 1 Credit Union, participants can also qualify for milestone grants by achieving specific business goals.
Lenawee Now and the Hillsdale Economic Development Partnership partnered with Lean Rocket Lab to bring this boot camp to local business owners in the fall of 2024. The inaugural cohort featured 10 entrepreneurs from a variety of Main Street industries, such as restaurants, retail, and novelty goods. Participants praised the program for its high-quality training and robust entrepreneurial support. Sonja Howell, Executive Director of Tranquil Studios, stated, “Lean Rocket Lab helped me look at things that I didn't know that I needed to look at.”
Applications are now open for the 2025 Lenawee/Hillsdale Lean Rocket LOCAL Fellows Program. To apply, visit www.leanrocketlab.org/local. For questions, contact Lenawee Now’s Director of Entrepreneurial Services, Gary Clemetson, at Gary@LenaweeNow.org or The Hillsdale EDP’s Executive Director Sue Smith at SSmith@HillsdaleEDP.org.
Press Releases
Lenawee Now and the Align Center for Workforce Development Host Former Lieutenant Governor and Current President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Brian Calley at the Fall Economic Club Luncheon
Adrian, MI – November 26, 2024
Adrian, Michigan, November 19, 2024, ─ Lenawee Now and the Align Center for Workforce Development brought together thought leaders in business, education, and government at the 2024 Fall Economic Club Luncheon. This event was held at the Centre, welcoming over 90 patrons from across the region. Attendees heard from keynote speaker Brian Calley, former Lieutenant Governor and the current President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM).
Calley served as the Lieutenant Governor under Rick Snyder. As Lieutenant Governor he made Michigan more economically competitive and lifted the state’s business tax climate from the 49th-worst to the top 10. Since 2019, Calley has been the President and CEO of SBAM, advocating for businesses throughout the state.
When speaking at the Economic Club Luncheon, Calley addressed key economic trends and legal developments that would shape the small business climate in the coming year. In his presentation, Calley highlighted Inflation, income growth trends, and the impact of the consumer price index. In addition, he noted how the labor force participation rate, job growth, and the national debt affected federal rate cuts and the economy. Following his discussion of economic trends, he highlighted upcoming government regulations and the implications for how businesses registered personal information, dispensed sick time, and dealt with contractors.
According to Ron Griffith, Interim Director of Align Center for Workforce Development, “The address was very insightful, and attendees gained actional information from the material presented.”
Lenawee Now and the Align Center for Workforce Development are excited to announce their next Economic Club luncheon, featuring Michigan Chamber of Commerce President Jim Holcomb. For inquiries about this event contact Ron Griffith, Interim Executive Director of the Align Center for Workforce Development at Ron@AlignLenawee.org
Press Releases
Lenawee Now Celebrates Teacher and Counselor Success at Fourth Annual Externship Dinner
Adrian, MI – September 19, 2024
September 19, Adrian, MI ─
The Align Center for Workforce Development Celebrated its fourth annual Teacher/Counselor Externship program with an awards banquet at the Lenawee Now office. The externship program had nine teachers and counselors participating from Hudson, Tecumseh, Adrian, Sand Creek, Blissfield, Morenci, and Clinton Schools. Externs were placed at seven different host sites: Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee, Lenawee County Medical Examiner, Evonik, W2 Fuel, ProMedica, YMCA Storer Camp, and the Align Center for Workforce Development. At this dinner, externs gave presentations about their experiences and received awards for completion of the program.
The Align Center for Workforce Development created the externship program in partnership with the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) In 2021. This initiative was designed to help educators learn about careers that could benefit their students and gain real-world insights they could use in the classroom.
Externs were matched with participating employers and spent two weeks of the summer at the employer's facility. Throughout that time, educators shadowed the different departments and learned about the necessary skills to perform the various roles. In addition, they are provided opportunities to work on relevant projects for the company. As part of the initiatives, educators receive a stipend and SCECH’s State Continuing Education Clock hours) toward their certification requirements.
The program culminated in a dinner, where participants delivered presentations on their externship experience, detailing what the company did, and what they would bring back to the classroom. Throughout the night, externs shared how they benefitted from the program. Many noted that they discovered numerous careers with which they were not previously familiar, and were able to help students see practical applications for classroom assignments.
Ron Schaffner, a science and math teacher at Clinton High School and extern at W2 Fuel shared how the experience would help students ground their coursework in AP Chemistry with real-world application. According to Schaffner “That kind of out-of-classroom experience I think is invaluable. A lot of kids learn a lot of content, in a silo almost, where it's not an applied thing. I can't encourage teachers enough, to look at the variety of opportunities they have, and you and your students will benefit tremendously.”
The night concluded with the externs and employers being presented with awards and certificates of completion to celebrate the fourth year of a successful program.
Press Releases
Lenawee Now Automotive Collaborative, LISD TECH Center, Fill Talent Gaps, Upskill Automotive Workers
Adrian, MI – September 3, 2024
The Lenawee Now Automotive Collaborative, Mark Lafollette of the Automotive Service Technology (AST) Program, and the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) TECH Center successfully certified over 20 workers from auto dealerships across Lenawee, Hillsdale, and Jackson Counties. These employees earned credentials in steering, brakes, and suspension. Currently, collaborative members have equipped staff across businesses with a total of 52 State of Michigan certifications. The dealerships plan to offer additional certification opportunities to incumbent workers in the fall of 2024.
The Lenawee Now Automotive Collaborative was formed to address industry-wide talent shortages in auto dealerships across Lenawee, Jackson, and Hillsdale counties. Members use the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Framework, a methodology nationally certified by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which applies supply chain management principles to create sustainable pipelines of skilled workers to meet employer talent needs.
Certification initiatives began in 2022, targeting the need for skilled entry-level mechanics. At that time, auto retailers struggled to hire new mechanics with the necessary skills and certifications, especially as the average age of current mechanics was 50, leading to a high retirement rate.
Collaborative members focused on upskilling their incumbent workers. Many of these workers had tried and failed to achieve certification in the past, resulting in their assignment to low skill low paying jobs at the dealerships.
In response, the Auto Dealership Collaborative, together with the AST program and LISD TECH Center, established an Adult Learning Services Class. This program provides opportunities for workers to gain certification in in-demand skills, enhancing their capacity at the dealerships. The courses began with brakes, meeting live once a week at the TECH Center to teach best practices. In addition to hands-on learning, participants used an app that sent them five questions daily to answer on their phones.
Since 2022, the collaborative has certified workers in Brakes, Steering and Suspension, and Electrical, with nearly a 100% success rate. According to Jack Townsley, “This initiative was a win/win solution for both the dealerships and the trainees. The dealerships were able to address their need for entry level mechanics and their workers who were upskilled moved from low paying low skilled jobs into a career path as mechanics with a very bright future and high earning potential.”
Press Releases
Lenawee Now, Enterprise Group of Jackson and Experience Jackson Host Site Selectors for a Familiarization Tour
Adrian, MI – August 19, 2024
Lenawee Now, in its ongoing commitment to promoting economic growth and fostering a vibrant business environment, partnered with the Enterprise Group of Jackson and Experience Jackson to host a group of prominent site selectors for a comprehensive familiarization tour of our region. This tour, held from August 15 to August 18, was part of our strategic effort to showcase the communities’ unique assets, business-friendly environment, and growth potential to key decision-makers in the site selection industry.
Executives from Thomas and Hutton Engineering, Cushman and Wakefield, and Webster Global Site Selectors visited Lenawee and Jackson Counties to become immersed in the communities and discover the benefits and opportunities to doing business in the area. The tour provided participants with insights into the community's character and quality of life. Throughout the weekend, our guests gained an understanding of living and working in Southeastern Michigan by visiting established businesses, experiencing region-specific recreational activities, and attending networking dinners. The tour culminated at Michigan International Speedway with the NASCAR FireKeepers Casino 400.
“This familiarization tour was an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate what makes our counties a competitive choice for business investment and expansion,” said Pat Farver, Executive Director of Lenawee Now. “By hosting these influential site selectors, we’ve taken an important step toward attracting new businesses, creating jobs, and boosting our local economy.”
The site selectors expressed their appreciation for the warm hospitality and the comprehensive overview of what our region has to offer. They noted the community’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and strong quality of life as significant advantages that could attract new businesses to the area.
Lenawee County has seen substantial interest from potential investors and developers in recent years, thanks to targeted efforts by Lenawee Now to promote the area’s strengths. The insights gained from this familiarization tour will help guide the organization’s ongoing efforts to attract new businesses and support existing ones.
Lenawee Now looks forward to building on the momentum generated by this successful event and continuing to position Lenawee County as a leading choice for business investment in the region.
Press Releases
LISD Tech Center Students Showcase Innovation In Nation’s Capital
Adrian, MI – June 27, 2024
In a room overlooking the White House, LISD TECH Center students Diego Juarez (Tecumseh) and Sam Solis (Onsted) recently represented Lenawee County in the nation’s capital as they presented a team project at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation event. Their project was part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Employer Provided Innovation Challenges (EPIC), an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between education and industry through high-quality, project-based learning. Juarez and Solis were Marketing & Entrepreneurship students during the 2023-2024 school year. Their presentation focused on increasing awareness of job opportunities in the chemical industry within Lenawee County through a digital marketing campaign. Supported by EPIC and Lenawee Now, their campaign highlighted innovative solutions to real-world industry challenges, showcasing their technical prowess and practical business acumen. This opportunity became available after an impressive presentation to local chemical company representatives earlier this spring.
Lenawee Now was selected as one of only 9 Employer Clearing Houses across the United States to pilot EPIC this first year. The role of the Employer Clearing House is to connect employers with concrete real-world problems or projects to teams of students who work to address them and present their results back to the employer.
Press Releases
EPA announces Lenawee Now Foundation awarded $500,000 in Brownfields grants through Investing in America Agenda.
Adrian, MI – May 21, 2024
Lenawee, MI – Lenawee Now Foundation, a not-for-profit private public partnership driving economic opportunity in Lenawee County, Michigan, has been named one of seven communities in Michigan to receive grants totaling more than $5.4 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites. Specifically, LNF will receive $500,000 to help fund environmental assessments in Lenawee County.
Regional Employers Gather in Litchfield to Strengthen Talent Pipelines
Litchfield, MI – May 16, 2024
The Sector Strategies Breakfast Meet and Mingle was held at the Litchfield Training Center on May 16, bringing in 30 attendees. This event was a collaboration between Lenawee Now, Hillsdale EDP, Jackson Area Manufacturers Association (JAMA), and other partners to facilitate networking and highlight resources to address regional challenges regarding workforce recruitment, training, and development through the sector strategies initiative.
Lenawee Now’s Randy Yagiela, Gary Clemetson, and Jack Townsley shared about grants, partnerships, and the benefits of TPM. Yagiela discussed the $330,000 grant received to combat the lack of access to affordable childcare, which has been a barrier for many individuals trying to enter the workforce. He also highlighted the $10 million grant to support talent pipeline building and training. Furthermore, he expressed the opportunities that collaborations with various partners could bring.
Press Releases
Lenawee Now partners with Hillsdale Economic Development Partnership and Lean Rocket Lab to expand small business
Apr 4, 2024
Lenawee Now, a not-for-profit private public partnership driving economic opportunity in Lenawee County, Michigan, has been named one of 27 Small Business Support Hubs across the State of Michigan. With its’ partners Lean Rocket Lab, Hillsdale EDP & the MI Small Business Development Center, we have been awarded a $1.4 million grant over a 3-year period from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to expand Lean Rocket Lab’s “LOCAL” program into Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties.
Local Students Shine in Chemistry Challenge
Feb 1, 2024
In a showcase of scientific prowess, middle school students from Lenawee County gathered at Adrian High School’s Performing Arts Center on January 30th for the regional You Be the Chemist Challenge®. More than 40 young minds put their chemistry knowledge to the test at the competition coordinated by the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD), Lenawee Now, and local chemical companies.
Press Releases
Students Learn Entrepreneurial Skills at CEO Challenge Kick-Off
January 31, 2024
Junior Achievement, in collaboration with Lenawee Now, successfully hosted the CEO Challenge Spark event on January 30 at the LISD TECH Center. This event provided over 50 students with a unique platform to cultivate entrepreneurial skills. High schoolers from across the county gained a greater knowledge of entrepreneurship by hearing from a panel of local entrepreneurs and an opportunity to create and pitch a product idea. Spark is the first stage of a 6-week program designed to help high school students create and pitch business ideas.
Development Director of Lenawee Now, awarded for workforce development Center
January 24, 2024
Randy Yagiela, Development Director of Lenawee Now, has been awarded an Innovation Fellowship for The Align Center for Workforce Development by the MSU EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI). They were created in 2011 by the Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development and funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce – Economic Development Administration (EDA). The Innovation Fellows program was established in 2016 to attract and support top champions in communities and organizations to tackle the tough economic development issues that our distressed communities face every day. Innovation Fellows provide on-the-ground support and coordination to move concepts to actions, implementing new economic development tools, models, and policies.
