ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
TALENT & SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT
Grow, retain and attract businesses to Genesee County by connecting them to resources needed to advance the prosperity of local residents.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
TALENT & SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT
Grow, retain and attract businesses to Genesee County by connecting them to resources needed to advance the prosperity of local residents.
The Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance completed a remarkable year in 2021, closing seven business development projects that resulted in $123 million of private investment and the creation of 773 jobs. In fact, the division achieved 50.9 percent of its three-year goal for securing new private investment in one year and achieved 51.5 percent of its job-growth target for the same period.
The seven projects are:
PPG, a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products and specialty materials, expanding its location in Flint to accommodate two additional batch ovens.
NorthGate, a provider of supply chain management, expanding into an existing facility in Burton to handle logistics associated with packaging, sorting and distribution of parts to Ford Motor Co.
Magna Electronics, a Tier 1 automotive supplier, added new machinery at its Grand Blanc Township facility to deliver advanced lighting systems to its automotive customers.
Goyette Mechanical Co., a leader in plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical sales, expanding its existing headquarters into a high-profile, state-of-the-art office and training facility on a refreshed campus site in Flint.
DAG Technologies, a market leader in decorative wheel trim for the auto industry, establishing a new manufacturing facility at an existing building in Grand Blanc Township, where it will focus on assembly, paint and assemble, and injection molding.
Allegiant Travel Co., a commercial airline, establishing a base of operations, including three Airbus A320 aircraft and flight and ground crews, at Bishop International Airport.
HIROTEC, a global Tier 1 automotive supplier specializing in the production of body-in-white closures, exhaust systems, and closure manufacturing equipment, acquired 200,000-square-feet of manufacturing space in the former Delphi East site on north Center Road in Flint.
Impact of COVID and Relief Accomplishments
Despite the successes of the new investment projects, the ongoing pandemic remained a challenge for the Economic Alliance team in 2021. Working remotely and travel restrictions imposed to protect public health made it difficult to network and further relationships with clients and site selectors. The emergence of new COVID variants that led to the tightening of safety protocols also infused the business climate with an air of unpredictability.
However, there continued to be significant interest in the Flint & Genesee region, as the division submitted available sites/land in response to 65 Requests for Proposals. Economic Alliance’s effective use of remote-conferencing technologies (i.e., Zoom and Microsoft Teams) allowed the division to meet with more site selectors and prospective attraction clients than in previous years.
Meanwhile, the division administered the Michigan Survival Grant for Region 6 in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and awarded $4.1 million to 291 companies across the seven-county region; of that, $1.4 million was awarded to 96 Genesee County companies.
Small Business Development & Talent Connection Services
In 2021, the division increased its focus on strengthening the support system for Genesee County small businesses. The work was driven, in part, by the findings of the Genesee County Business Landscape Survey, commissioned by Economic Alliance in the spring of 2021. The study of 350 small businesses, conducted by the Ann Arbor-based research firm EntryPoint, provided great insight into the needs and challenges of the local small business community.
A chief concern identified was the need to improve access to capital and/or provide direct financial support to help locally owned and operated enterprises succeed. Also cited was the importance of increasing the visibility of Flint & Genesee businesses through target marketing or “shop local” initiatives. In addition, the survey data showed that nearly 50 percent of area small businesses are less than five years old and the majority under 10 years. Therefore, it became apparent that helping small businesses survive beyond the “startup years” was essential to build a resilient and vibrant business community.
This led to the launch of the Small Business Help Desk, a formalized online platform for providing personal, private, no cost small business coaching. The Small Business Help Desk was integral to conducting more than 420 meetings with entrepreneurs and small business owners in 2021. Delivering support to small businesses included a renewed partnership with General Motors for another round of the Moving Flint Forward grant program, which awarded $150,000 to 15 Flint-based businesses. The Economic Alliance also closed two Genesee County Economic Development Corp. Revolving Loan Fund loans resulting in three jobs created and $75,000 invested; and supported two entrepreneurs in securing a total of $13,000 in Kiva loans.
Talent continued to be a significant concern in 2021 for Flint & Genesee businesses across nearly all industry sectors. The division’s Talent Connection Services worked with area employers to help connect job seekers with to 603 open job opportunities. They also joined with community partners as well as allied divisions of Flint & Genesee Group to co-host virtual and in-person career fairs, including:
Results from the Genesee County Business Landscape Survey were published in the Genesee County Small Business Analysis.
Moving Flint Forward with Sal's Gym
Results from the Genesee County Business Landscape Survey were published in the Genesee County Small Business Analysis.
In 2021, the division increased its focus on strengthening the support system for Genesee County small businesses. The work was driven, in part, by the findings of the Genesee County Business Landscape Survey, commissioned by Economic Alliance in the spring of 2021. The study of 350 small businesses, conducted by the Ann Arbor-based research firm EntryPoint, provided great insight into the needs and challenges of the local small business community.
A chief concern identified was the need to improve access to capital and/or provide direct financial support to help locally owned and operated enterprises succeed. Also cited was the importance of increasing the visibility of Flint & Genesee businesses through target marketing or “shop local” initiatives. In addition, the survey data showed that nearly 50 percent of area small businesses are less than five years old and the majority under 10 years. Therefore, it became apparent that helping small businesses survive beyond the “startup years” was essential to build a resilient and vibrant business community.
This led to the launch of the Small Business Help Desk, a formalized online platform for providing personal, private, no cost small business coaching. The Small Business Help Desk was integral to conducting more than 420 meetings with entrepreneurs and small business owners in 2021. Delivering support to small businesses included a renewed partnership with General Motors for another round of the Moving Flint Forward grant program, which awarded $150,000 to 15 Flint-based businesses. The Economic Alliance also closed two Genesee County Economic Development Corp. Revolving Loan Fund loans resulting in three jobs created and $75,000 invested; and supported two entrepreneurs in securing a total of $13,000 in Kiva loans.
Moving Flint Forward with Sal's Gym
Talent continued to be a significant concern in 2021 for Flint & Genesee businesses across nearly all industry sectors. The division’s Talent Connection Services worked with area employers to help connect job seekers with to 603 open job opportunities. They also joined with community partners as well as allied divisions of Flint & Genesee Group to co-host virtual and in-person career fairs, including:
The virtual Genesee County Manufacturing Career Fair, featuring 18 employers, 6 resources providers and 80 job seekers; more than 200 one-to-one conversations between employers and job seekers conducted.
Co-hosted with Explore Flint & Genesee a virtual Genesee County Hospitality Career Fair for area hotels.
Co-hosted, with Explore Flint & Genesee, Flint & Genesee Chamber and Flint & Genesee Education & Talent, the Flint & Genesee Career Expo; more than 120 companies participated with over 1,900 jobs available and over 400 job seekers.
The virtual Genesee County Manufacturing Career Fair, featuring 18 employers, 6 resources providers and 80 job seekers; more than 200 one-to-one conversations between employers and job seekers conducted.
Co-hosted with Explore Flint & Genesee a virtual Genesee County Hospitality Career Fair for area hotels.
Co-hosted, with Explore Flint & Genesee, Flint & Genesee Chamber and Flint & Genesee Education & Talent, the Flint & Genesee Career Expo; more than 120 companies participated with over 1,900 jobs available and over 400 job seekers.
Regional/Statewide Collaboration
Economic Alliance’s collaborations regionally and statewide continued to expand in 2021. This included ongoing work on Forward Together: A Shared Vision for Economic Prosperity, an initiative designed to make Genesee County a top-five community in Michigan on the basis of jobs, talent, livability and equity by 2040. Other involvements include:
- Region 6 representative on the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Collaborative Development Council
- Representing Genesee County on Detroit Regional Partnership’s Partner Council, an 11-county consortium, and the Center for Automotive Research Automotive Communities Partnership
- Serving on the University of Michigan-Flint’s Citizen Advisory Council and Kettering University’s School of Management Industry Advisory Council.
Government Contracting (PTAC)
The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), a program of Economic Alliance, continued its support of small businesses. The group facilitated more than $82.5 million in federal, state, local and subcontracting opportunities for clients throughout Region 6 during DLA fiscal year.
PTAC made significant strides toward achievement of all program DLA goals with 147 new clients, delivering 1,697 counseling hours and hosting 49 events. It hosted a virtual “Meet the Buyer” event with 85 companies that were represented with 12 buyers in attendance.
PTAC also partnered with General Dynamics, the Michigan Small Business Development Center and Economic Development Alliance of St Clair County on a two-part subcontracting workshop that resulted in greater client participation into General Dynamics supply chain.
Government Contracting (PTAC)
The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), a program of Economic Alliance, continued its support of small businesses. The group facilitated more than $82.5 million in federal, state, local and subcontracting opportunities for clients throughout Region 6 during DLA fiscal year.
PTAC made significant strides toward achievement of all program DLA goals with 147 new clients, delivering 1,697 counseling hours and hosting 49 events. It hosted a virtual “Meet the Buyer” event with 85 companies that were represented with 12 buyers in attendance.
PTAC also partnered with General Dynamics, the Michigan Small Business Development Center and Economic Development Alliance of St Clair County on a two-part subcontracting workshop that resulted in greater client participation into General Dynamics supply chain.
