UPCDC Update

Posted by on July 27, 2012

The LSCP has the honor of being the representing organization for Region 1 on the State’s Collaborative Development Council.  Region 1 is made up of local economic developers, as recognized by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), from the 15 counties across Upper Michigan.  Last year, the group organized under the name Upper Peninsula Collaborative Development Council (UPCDC). 

The UPCDC meets monthly to discuss local needs and concerns, what’s happening at the State level and how to align with the efforts of the MEDC.   
Here is an update on a few things the UPCDC has been working on:
·         Almost all UPCDC members have implemented a shared commercial sites and buildings portal on their websites.   The portal, provided by Location One Information Systems, is a comprehensive site selection tool that lists available commercial sites and buildings, as well as generates extensive demographic reports for the surrounding area to aid in the site selection process.

·         Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. (EMSI) Analyst provides UPCDC members with an advantage in serving the needs of businesses, educators and workforce professionals.  Through this resource, the UPCDC has access to a variety of economic overviews, reporting, impact assessments, and more to maximize our retention, expansion, and attraction efforts.

·         In an effort to increase the proximity between Region 1 economic developers and Lansing, the UPCDC group participates in a weekly Legislative News and Bill Tracking service.  These updates are sent out every Monday to UPCDC members, who use them to stay informed on issues within the Michigan Legislature, as well as news items from across the state that pertain to economic development.

·         The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program is designed to assist small and medium sized businesses diversify their customer base and enter new global markets.  Through assistance from the UPCDC and the MEDC, 18 Upper Peninsula businesses are currently participating in some stage of the STEP program.
More information about the UPCDC can be found on our website at https://marquette.org/up-collaborative-development-council.

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