Macomb County, MI

10/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/16/2024 06:05

Momentum - October 2024

Message from Vicky Rowinski

Hello and welcome to the October edition of the Momentum newsletter. I hope you can take some time to enjoy your fall in Macomb County, and to check out all of the good things we have going on in our department. Because we're building some Momentum inside Macomb County Planning and Economic Development! And stay tuned, the printed edition of Momentum Magazine comes out in December. This is your chance to read about more great news coming out of MCPED, so if you aren't a Macomb Daily subscriber and would like a copy, please email [email protected].

Thank you and enjoy!

Vicky

Economic development

Macomb County's economic development team is ready to help your business take the next step

You've put in the sweat equity, the blood, sweat and tears, and your business idea has become a successful reality.

Now you're ready to take the next step. But you need help moving forward, whether it be growing your business, relocating your business, finding new employees or any number of decisions that will determine the future path of all your hard work.

This is where the Macomb County's economic development team can help make the next step a success. Assistance can include site selection; grants; tax incentives; financial support; and workforce training.

To illustrate the many ways the ED team can help, we've launched a new campaign: Your business - on your terms. Helpful content includes specific ways in which the ED team can provide assistance, including:

Check it all out to learn more about ways that we can help you take that next step. Our economic development team can assist you in one or all of those areas. All assistance is free and confidential.

No pressure, no cold calls. Let us help you improve your business - on your terms.

October workshop will help businesses learn how to protect themselves from cyber threats

With an increasingly dangerous worldwide internet, it remains ever important that company's data and operating systems are protected from attack by a cybersecurity plan. A company's sensitive data, personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI) and industry information systems are all at risk without proper security in place. And that risk is quantifiable:

  • There were 2,365 cyber incidents in 2023, with more than 343 million victims.
  • More than 94% of organizations have reported email security incidents. Email is the most common vector for malware, with around 35% of malware delivered via email in 2023.
  • The number of data breaches continues to grow each year. According to securitymagazine.com, more than 3,205 data breaches occurred in 2023, impacting an estimated 353 million victims. These types of attacks cost businesses between $4.62 and $4.69 million on average. And the compromises represent a 78% increase over 2023.

To help your business become cyber secure, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development will host a new Macomb Nextworkshop titled, "Understanding Cyber Threats: How to Recognize and Respond" on Oct. 23.

The event will take place at Macomb Community College South Campus in Warren in Building K from 8-10 a.m. It will feature important discussions that can ensure all businesses have the resources they need to stay safe and secure online.

Speakers include:

  • Eric Castaglia, the Chief Growth Officer at BAE Networks, who will discuss strategies to stay ahead of cybercriminals on the dark web.
  • Karen Kiewski, an IT professional at Systems X, will discuss the steps the businesses should be taking to prevent potential threats.
  • Special Agent Karen Kiberg of the FBI Detroit Cyber Taskforce, will discuss how to respond quickly and effectively to a cyber compromise.

"Effective, updated cybersecurity compliance is more important than ever to protect our business from data theft, damage and misuse," MCPED Director Vicky Rowinski said. "On the heels of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we are offering this workshop to help our local organizations gain first-hand knowledge from cybersecurity professionals on how they can shield and protect their business from threats."

The Oct. 23 event is open to any business looking to learn more about recent cyber attacks, steps for prevention, and how to respond to an attack.​ A light breakfast will be served with ample time for networking and visiting with vendors and experts on cybersecurity. There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited, and registrationis required.

The workshop is made possible by Macomb County Planning and Economic Development, in partnership with Macomb County Emergency Management, Macomb County Chamber, and First State Bank.

To learn more about the Macomb Next project, Industry 4.0 and grant opportunities, please visit macombnext.com.
See registration for the upcoming cybersecurity event below:

Post your jobs on the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing initiative website

Defense industry manufacturers and suppliers, if you're looking for additional workers in the fields of welding, machining or other skilled trades, you can now post your available jobs on the Built in MichiganM3 website!

M3, or the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing initiative, is a $10 million partnership aimed at training Michigan workers to lead the future of defense manufacturing. It is developing students with valuable trade skills, particularly in maritime welding and machining, through local community colleges. Students will be trained at Macomb Community College as well as other community colleges across the country.

The M3 initiative focuses on training workers in critical skills for submarine construction, but those skills will be transferable to a variety of other manufacturing industries.

For more information, go to Built in Michigan.

Community corner

Macomb County partnership with Advancing Macomb bolsters local nonprofit organizations

In June 2024, it was announced that MCPED had partnered with Advancing Macomb, a 501c3 that convenes resources to solve community challenges and enrich the lives of Macomb County residents, to provide resource navigation and technical assistance for local nonprofit organizations. Through the agreement, Advancing Macomb will serve as a bridge, connecting 501c3 charitable organizations in Macomb County with a wide range of local, regional, and statewide programs and services. These include opportunities such as available grant programs, volunteers, in-kind professional services, data, marketing and planning services, all designed to enhance the capabilities of nonprofit organizations.

"Just as we work alongside businesses to help them expand and grow, we must help our local nonprofits as well," said Jeff Schroeder, deputy director, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development. "By partnering with Advancing Macomb, the County will position these organizations for success. And this ultimately benefits our community as a whole, as our nonprofits provide countless programs and services that assist our residents in a number of important ways."

Advancing Macomb will also provide technical assistance to nonprofit organizations seeking greater expertise in grant funding, fundraising strategies, data collection, strategic planning and volunteer management. All services will be delivered in a flexible manner, both virtually and in person, as needed, ensuring the organization's needs are met. A series of skills workshops will provide a deeper dive into key topics such as grant writing, good governance, financial management for nonprofits and more.

Upcoming events include:

October 16, 2024 1 pm
HR 101 for Nonprofits • Nonprofit Roundtable
Velocity, 6633 18 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48314

October 30, 2024 1 pm
Federal Grants Overview• Nonprofit Roundtable
Virtual Event

November 14, 2024 9 am
Nonprofit Workshop: Basics of Grantwriting for Municipal Governments• Event
Macomb Community College University Center, 43901 University Drive, Clinton Township, MI 48038

December 4, 2024 1 pm
Meet the Funder: Fifth Third Bank• Nonprofit Roundtable
Virtual Event

"Nonprofits play an essential role in our community by providing much-needed services and resources for our residents," said Phil Gilchrist, executive director of Advancing Macomb. "We are pleased to partner with Macomb County Planning and Economic Development to help strengthen and support the work of these important organizations."

In addition, Advancing Macomb will help connect private businesses interested in greater community engagement to opportunities with nonprofit organizations, helping to build stronger cross-sector collaborations and partnerships.

Macomb County nonprofit and business leaders who would like to learn more should visit advancingmacomb.com, email [email protected]or call 586-651-0055.

Macomb County municipalities to benefit from upcoming fall tree plantings

Mother Nature drastically changes before our eyes in the most breathtaking way during fall. But surprisingly, there are man-made additions that can positively affect and beautify our environment, as well. The Macomb County Parks and Natural Resources team is contributing to nature's changes this fall with multiple tree plantings throughout the county as part of their Green Macomb Urban Forest Partnership.

The Urban Forest Partnership's goal is to increase Macomb County's tree canopy. In the past, the county has been identified by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments as having a concerning lack of tree canopies due to disease and destruction from in-ground infrastructure and roadways. Trees not only make our neighborhoods more beautiful, but they also provide multiple health benefits, as well. This includes, but is not limited to, the reduction of pollutants in the air, which leads to a decrease in heart and lung diseases.

Planting trees throughout the community is an important effort that benefits everyone. During October of this year there will be three tree plantings in the following communities: Richmond, Warren and Macomb Township. Richmond's plantings will take place in various locations such as municipal facilities, along city streets and in Beebe Street Park. Warren's tree additions will be planted in Trombley Park in partnership with Second Nature Brands, a major snack and treats company that pledged in 2021 to plant one million trees over the next five years. Trombley Park will receive 20-25 trees. Lastly, Macomb Township will receive trees for their municipal complex.

To learn more about Green Macomb and how your municipality can get involved, visit
Greenmacomb.com

CDBG celebrates 50 years of programing and community projects

The Macomb County Community Development team officially marked 50 years of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program with a celebration in September.

Enacted by Congress in 1974, CDBG provides essential funding to communities across the country, addressing infrastructure, economic development, and housing needs. Macomb County has been a part of the program since the very beginning, receiving up to $1.8 million in annual grants in the last five years.

The projects in Macomb County are made possible through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Communities can benefit from the CDBG program by applying for funds to make improvements to public facilities in eligible neighborhoods

For example, a huge project for the county was Roxana Park in Eastpointe. Completed in 2021, the rebuilding of Roxana Park came from 2018 and 2019 CDBG funds, totaling $160,133 - this went toward the construction of the new playground where the previously demolished elementary school was located. Thanks to the efforts of both the community and Macomb County's Community Development team, residents of Eastpointe can now enjoy the great amenities this park has to offer.

"Before the Roxana Park project started, the site had an old slide and swing set without any swings," said Gary Sasek, chair, Eastpointe Parks Commission. "Since the new play equipment was installed, the neighborhood has been constantly using that park. It's been such a boost to the community. And for me, the best part was the installation of the pavilion, as I regularly see birthday parties, family reunions and more hosted there."

Other notable efforts include:

  • Facilitation of the Macomb County Housing Rehabilitation Program, which has spent a total of $4,763,167 to rehab 443 homes across the region.
  • Construction of the Sterling Heights Senior Center in 2005. Additional dollars have been used to make parking lot improvements and to install an outdoor fitness area.
  • Expansion of the Owen Jax Recreation Center in Warren. The city had acquired North Bay Machinery which was adjacent to the existing recreation center. After demolition and a clean up, the city created a new park and green space. They also renovated the existing gym with the center.
  • Funding of the Clinton Township Adaptive Softball Program, a league for special needs adults who might need some type of accommodation to play.
  • Installation of lighting in Eastpointe, which saw solar lights added on the right of way in residential neighborhoods at mid- block locations for the safety of residents.

To learn more about the Macomb County planning and CDBG program, visit the community planning services page, and to learn more about the overall HUD program, visit their website.

Talking talent

Find your future workforce in upcoming November webinar

Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) will hold the Find Your Future Workforce webinar on Tuesday, November 12 at 10 a.m. to discuss the Fueling the Talent Pipeline(FTTP) program and how we can help develop your future workforce.

Talent shortages are a universal problem, with employers looking for people to fill jobs at all levels across all industries. The FTTP initiative is Macomb County's response to this issue.

The goal of FTTP is to connect employers with the next generation of talent via k-12 school programming in the hopes of kickstarting meaningful career exploration before the next stage of these students' lives.

"Our partners play a key role in Fueling the Talent Pipeline," said MCPED Director Vicky Rowinski. "By partnering local businesses with Macomb County schools, we are able to expose students to career experiences such as tours, job shadows and internships. These experiences not only give students insight into what their future career could look like but it also potentially fuels the pipeline for those businesses."

Organizations that are interested in hearing more about how we can help build your future workforce today, are welcome to attend the upcoming webinar.

Sign-up for the virtual event can be found below. For more on Fueling the Talent Pipeline or to join the program, visit the Fueling the Talent Pipeline main page.

Manufacturing Day/Week a record-breaking success

Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) just completed its record-breaking Manufacturing Day/Week, with more host sites than ever before! Now in our 11th year, we continue working to connect some of our most-skilled high school students with the manufacturing jobs of today and tomorrow.

This year, 70 host sites helped connect high school students with potential manufacturing at modern, clean, high-tech manufacturing facilities.

"It was a phenomenal week of interaction between high school students and our manufacturing community," MCPED Director Vicky Rowinski said. "It was a great opportunity to pair classroom knowledge with the high-tech processes that take place in today's manufacturing environment."

Manufacturing Day is a national day in which high school students across the country can learn about modern-day manufacturing, career options and more. The intent is to make students aware that careers in manufacturing today are much different than years ago. Today, the manufacturing industry utilizes technology to create and build the latest and greatest products.

Since 2014, about 22,000 students have participated in Macomb County's Manufacturing Day through the support of an active planning committee and the generosity of host sites and sponsors. Find a list of 2024 supporters and additional information on the Macomb County manufacturing day page.

Department happenings

Todd Seibert promoted to project manager

Please join us in congratulating Todd Seibert in his promotion to project manager for the Macomb County economic development (ED) team.

Todd joined the department in the winter of 2021 as a senior economic developer with over 12 years of business and workforce development under his belt. Since then, he has worked on securing grants and supporting our local industries with a focus in automotive and defense.

In his new role, he will oversee grant coordination and administration for ED related projects. This includes the mentorship of new staff, the overseeing of project team members and the attending of events or public hearings in an effort to attract and retain businesses.

Congratulations, Todd!

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Department:Planning and Economic Development