Monthly Meetings of the Keweenaw Industrial Council

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About the Meetings

The Keweenaw Industrial Council meets at 7:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, excluding July and August. Our regular meeting location is the ground floor conference room of the UPPCo headquarters building on the City of Houghton waterfront. Two or three times per year, by invitation, we meet at other locations.

A light buffet-style breakfast is served before each meeting. KIC meetings provide an excellent opportunity for networking. From 40 to 80 local men and women prominent in business, academic life, and the service professions attend each meeting. Members make announcements of upcoming events and of new products and services offered by their organizations. Each meeting also features a presentation of interest to the Keweenaw business community.

Upcoming Meeting

Keweenaw Industrial Council
Monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, October 13, 2004, 7:30 a.m.
UPPCo Headquarters Building, Community Room
Houghton, Michigan

Minutes - September 8, 2004

Keweenaw Industrial Council
www.kicbiz.com
600 E. Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931
Telephone: 906-482-6817, FAX: 906-482-3203
Monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, September 8, 2004
UPPCo Headquarters Building, Community Room
Houghton, Michigan

Present:

KIC President, Frank Stipech, called the meeting to order at 7:35 a.m.

Minutes -- The minutes of the June 9, 2004 meeting were approved as presented (Sullivan/Fink).

Financial Report -- Treasurer Bob Dupont reported that the checking acct. balance as of 7/31/04 was $48,493.48, CD's in various local banks was $39,185.70 and the RLF balance was $67,075.52.

New Members -- Up and Running, Crazydog and Hallstrom Engineering and Hantech were welcomed as new members. Ian McKilligan stated Up and Running does hardware troubleshooting and custom software development, and joined because they appreciate the work the KIC does in the community.

Member Announcements

• Employee Training -- Joe Holman of NMU stated training dollars are available to companies needing similar training. Also, a Train-the-Trainer course begins 10/14 in Marquette.
• Keweenaw Mountain Lodge -- John Sullivan stated the U.S. EDA regional office turner down a $1.3 M grant for the KML as it first wants a feasibility study completed by a hospitality specialist. EDA will share feasibility study costs with Keweenaw County.
• SmartZone -- Phil Musser stated the SmartZone Powerhouse incubator now has 5 companies employing 31 people and has reached financial break-even. Also, the SmartZone has just received a $450,000 grant to provide legal and marketing services to high-tech companies.
• Human Resources Forum -- Guy St. Germain announced an October 8th forum in Marquette that will cover various topics of interest to HR professionals. Cost is $25.
• Pine Mountain Music Festival -- Tom Scanlan stated the PMMF is looking for 1,000-1,500 sq. ft. of space in which to locate their operations in the Houghton/Hancock area.
• Dennis Hext -- Mesaba has added an additional flight, and Hext is requesting companies to write thank-you letters to Mesaba to encourage them to continue enhancing local air travel. Letters should be sent to Hext who will forward them to Mesaba.
• Supervisory Skills Seminar -- Bill Fink announced the seminar will be co-sponsored by the KIC on November 12 in the community room at the UPPCo building. Announcements will be mailed.
• Superior Graphics -- Gary Gutshall announced his company is now serving BJ's clients, and that Superior Graphics is capable of taking on large promotions.

Executive Director's Report:

• Local Economic Conditions -- Most local companies are doing well. Houghton County has 7th lowest unemployment rate in Michigan. Baraga and Keweenaw Counties are not doing as well, and assisting their economies is a priority in order to ensure the health of the 3-county region.
• The KIC Spec building committee will postpone construction of the 7,500 sq. ft Business Development Center until Spring, 2005 to allow planning to be completed and a construction design finalized. One local company has reserved 2 bays, leaving one 2,500 sq. ft. bay available.
• Annual Wage & Benefit Survey -- Homer LLC will design and complete the Keweenaw's 1st annual survey this Fall with grants from Western U.P. Michigan Works and the KIC. This will allow companies to ensure their wage and benefit packages are competitive.
• Workshops -- The KIC is co-sponsoring a full-day Machine Guarding for Manufacturing workshop on September 15th in Houghton, and a one-half day exporting seminar on September 28th, also in Houghton. The cost of each workshop is $45. Contact Phil at 482-6817 to register.
• The KIC now accepts credit card payment for annual dues, workshop fees, etc.

Presentation: The Proposed Linden Dunes Golf Club, by Ed Fisher. Fisher, as head of the Village of Lake Linden's Parks and Recreation Committee, has taken the lead on this project. To date, Price Waterhouse Coopers has conducted a financial feasibility analysis showing it can generate enough revenues in 4 years to cover all costs including debt service, and a noted Canadian golf course architect has designed the 180 acre, 7,150 yard, 18-hole course. Also, contractors have bid from $2.8 - $3.5 million to construct the course. It is a unique course as many holes border water (Torch Lake) and it is designed as a destination course that will attract both tourists and locals. Financing will require bonding through Houghton County because of the Village's limited tax base. This could be accomplished through a limited tax obligation bond. After the bond is paid off, the course would be owned by the Village. A private investor has indicated possible interest in constructing a motel and restaurant on the site. The course could be constructed in two years. MTU business Students have estimated the secondary economic impact of the project, including additional employment in other businesses catering to tourists.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Philip Musser
Acting Secretary

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