The Marshall County Economic Development Corporation is involved in several county and region wide collaborations in order to further our mission of expanding and diversifying the local economy.
Some of the county wide economic development initiatives in which MCEDC is involved include the following:
North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center - Business Consulting Services
In 2011, a partnership was established between MCEDC and the North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center to bring a “circuit-rider” program of professional business counseling services to our Plymouth office. Alan Steele, ISBDC Business Advisor, provides individual clients one hour of free confidential business assistance sessions monthly, with unlimited access to the data and resources available through the SBDC network. The program provides entrepreneurs with free or low-cost business planning workshops, financial reviews, marketing assistance, and personnel/management support in all phases of business development, from conceptual phases and start-up to succession planning.
Marshall County Industrial Association
MCEDC participated in brainstorming a new direction for the Marshall County Industrial Association (MCIA) as a workforce development arm. MCIA was a longstanding but relatively inactive association of business leaders which was originally organized as a networking group with a mission of connecting business to education. In 2011, the standing MCIA Board voted to direct the energies of the group to a more closely-defined mission of addressing the critical skills gap among Marshall County students, adult learners and industry.
With this newly defined focus, the primary goal of the MCIA is to coordinate opportunity paths between training programs and introductory career placements, including internships and apprenticeships, to support existing industry. MCIA will also implement a campaign among guidance counselors and placement agencies about high-demand jobs, and call upon businesses to offer time and equipment for on-site training certifications.
MCEDC is also involved in the following regional economic development initiatives. Regional initiatives such as these will provide a common voice and marketing strategy to grow our existing businesses and attract new businesses to north central Indiana.
Michiana Partnership
This partnership, which is a regional economic development marketing coalition that includes Marshall County and six neighboring Indiana and Michigan counties, was organized and incorporated in 2011. The organization will leverage local business attraction marketing budgets to create a professional, targeted place-based marketing campaign. Proximity to the major Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis markets; a shared, high-quality labor shed; and a defined emphasis on manufacturing and University-led technology development will be the basis of the Michiana Partnership marketing message.
Michiana Wage & Benefits Survey
MCEDC will continue to work with the Michiana Partnership stakeholders to recruit participation in and produce the annual Michiana Wage & Benefits Survey. This extensive report is relied upon by existing local businesses to benchmark hiring ranges for personnel against like businesses in the area. We also have determined that this important survey to be an attraction tool as well, in showcasing a favorable cost of labor in the Midwest compared to other locations. A free report is issued to any business who contributes data to the survey.
The above list is just a small sample of the multitude of collaborations in which MCEDC is represented both within Marshall County and within the North Central Indiana region. Working with MCEDC will not only bring the talents and knowledge of our staff but of all those involved in these collaborative efforts.