News in Brief

Giuliani Speaks at Vision Tri-County Awards

Mid-Tech II Connects Researchers and Entrepreneurs

2006 State Legislative Luncheon a Success

Atwell Joins Midland Tomorrow Staff

Small Business Seminar - Business Plan Basics

County Health and Human Services Summit

Seminars Offered on Commercialization and SBIR, STTR Grants

SVSU Seeks Support for International Business Certificate Program

Midland Tomorrow Executive Director Scott Walker gave Midland Tomorrow's annual update to City Council on May 22, 2006. The update covered Midland Tomorrow services, an overview of progress in 2005 and our plans for 2006 and beyond. Click here to view the streaming video of the May 22 City Council meeting on the City's Web site. You can use the green-edged button beneath the video to advance to Scott's presentation (approximately 18 minutes in).

Are you a mom with a great business idea? If so, Whirlpool Corporation wants to hear from you. The 2006 Whirlpool Brand Mother of Invention Grant contest provides one grand-prize winning mom with a $20,000 grant, a new home office and a two-day business boot camp to leverage Whirlpool expertise, including product development and marketing. An additional $24,000 in grants will be distributed to four runners-up. The call for entries opened on Mother's Day and ends July 30. Click here for more information on this grant opportunity.

The Mid-Michigan Innovation Team (MMIT) is working to transform Mid-Michigan’s economy with a 3-year economic revitalization program backed by $50 million in federal grants and partner funds. As one of only 13 organizations in the nation to secure a federal WIRED grant, MMIT is working in 13 counties representing 2 million people, anchored by Flint, Lansing, Midland and Saginaw. The grant will invest $15 million into the region’s economy, with an additional $35 million in partner commitments. MMIT aims to build regional partnerships, create new markets and transitions, and market responsive workforce solutions in the 13 MMIT counties.

Have you seen Midland Tomorrow events and client organizations in the news recently? If not, we've compiled the last several weeks' worth of Midland Daily News coverage for you. See what's been happening with Midland's economic development!

Michigan Ice Softball has set up temporary offices in Studio 3 of the Valley Plaza Cinema. The team will be posting their office hours next week and will have merchandise, tickets and other information Ice fans seek.

Upcoming technology-related seminars and events at TheGlance.com

The last month has been a busy one for Midland Tomorrow, local entrepreneurs, university researchers, and state government. The 2006 State Legislative Luncheon allowed Midland County citizens to dialog with our State legislators in a newly lengthened question-and-answer session. The following week, the Mid-Tech II forum gave Michigan State University researchers the opportunity to connect with local entrepreneurs to discuss commercialization of their new technologies. A busy time, but an exciting one as we explore multiple new directions for Michigan's new economy.

Today was an important day for the Tri-County area as Rudy Giuliani traveled to Saginaw to keynote the inaugural Vision Tri-County Regional Leadership Award (see the article below). Many noteworthy seminars are coming up in June, including another SBTDC session on the basics of a business plan and BBC training on commercialization and SBIR/STTR grants. And don't miss County Health and Human Services' summit on June 15.

To assist us in this time of expansion and exploration, Midland Tomorrow has hired a new economic development manager to fill the vacancy left by Scott's promotion. Please help us welcome Jess Atwell as he joins our team and works along with us to retain and create quality jobs in Midland County!