This year will be the fourth that Midland Tomorrow hosts its Annual Awards Breakfast. Come join us on October 16 as we recognize and celebrate individuals, organizations, and businesses that have made outstanding contributions to Midland's economic development and quality of life - and witness firsthand the exciting new ways they are developing our technology industry to move Midland toward the future.

Four Midland Tomorrow client companies and partners are set to receive grants through an annual Department of Defense appropriations bill that is set to be approved by both the House and Senate this week. The bill contains millions of dollars in project monies. Central Michigan University, Dow Corning Corporation, Michigan Molecular Institute and Pilgrim Technology are among the local companies receiving grants.

Solidica, Inc., a rapidly growing, venture capital-backed technology company based in Ann Arbor, has received $1.3 million in funding over three years through Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Fund, an initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The funding will allow them to adapt their ultrasonic consolidation technology to manufacture embedded, sensor-based medical devices. Backed by North Coast Technology Investors, a venture capital firm with offices in Midland and Ann Arbor, Solidica will work closely with the Rapid Prototyping Center at Saginaw Valley State University to carry their medical device program to fruition.

MidMichigan Health has been named one of America's best employers for mature workers, according to AARP's annual survey of "Best Employers for Workers over 50." MidMichigan, which ranked 34 among the 50 companies listed, is one of four Michigan employers to be honored with this distinction by AARP this year.

Each year, the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR) provide more than $2 billion to small businesses developing technology throughout the country. In partnership with the Mt. Pleasant Smart Zone, Ann Arbor-based Biotechnology Business Consultants (BBC) is holding a 90-minute SBIR/STTR familiarization seminar on October 18th in Midland. The seminar will be held at Northwood University to attract attendees from across the Mid-Michigan region. You will leave with enough information to determine if you want to pursue this funding and attend subsequent intensive training with BBC.

A free Business Plan Basics Seminar will be held Thursday, October 5, 2006, at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, 1710 W. St. Andrews, Midland, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Attendance is recommended for those who would like to start a small business or those in business that would like to be acquainted with community and business resources.

If you are serious about seeking financing for your business, you owe it to yourself to attend a Financing Roundtable presented by TEAM SBA. TEAM SBA is a preferred SBA lender, a business consultant, SBA economic development staff, and business owners like you. We’ll debunk the myths and demystify the process of bank financing – in plain English. You will learn how your loan application will be analyzed, what underwriting criteria is used, and how banking regulations affect the decision. We will answer your questions based upon your business model. Please note: The SBA does not provide loan guarantees to real estate investment firms and this type of financing is not discussed at the roundtables.

Back by popular demand, The Michigan Department of Treasury Presents Fall 2006 New Business Tax Seminars. These seminars acquaint new business owners with their rights and responsibilities relative to Michigan Sales, Use and Withholding taxes. The technical aspects of the taxes as well as tax audits, assessments, collection procedures, appeal options, penalty waivers and protection of your confidential tax information will be discussed. Speakers from the Michigan Department of Treasury will be available to answer your questions.

The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center is pleased to present a three-session workshop designed to help you build your business plan. The sessions are designed to discuss and develop an in-depth Business Plan for entrepreneurial ventures. The workshop is appropriate for both the expansion of an existing business and the start of a new enterprise. The workshop provides information and thoughts on the details necessary to develop a business plan that will help focus your attention and provide guidance in starting, expanding and maintaining a small business.

The Center For Manufacturing Improvement, Saginaw Valley State University and the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, in conjunction with the Center for Automotive Research of Ann Arbor, are hosting a dinner meeting on October 17. Mr. Tom Hasse of MMTC will present details of how our Michigan economy is affected by the on-going market share loss of Ford and General Motors and the impact those reductions are having, and will continue to have, on the supplier base. You will see how a three-point program of Assessment, Training, and Custom Consultation can launch a market diversification program that will result in at least 25 potential new customers for each manufacturer that takes advantage of this program.