HTC Updates - April 2008

Here's an update of what we've accomplished since October 2007:

• HTC Fund Established (over $11,000 endowed)

• Family business succession workshop (sponsor Baker College) & business transition panel workshop

• HTC Steering Committee/Task Force HTC Overview Workshop

• Active Steering Committee & Pillar Task Forces

• Speaker Jack Shultz, BoomTown USA (with support of Michigan Gas Utilities)

• HTC blog created http://branchcountyhtc.blogspot.com/

• Regional HTC Academy (sponsored by southwest Michigan community foundations)

• Youth on boards of Coldwater Downtown Development Authority and Bronson City Council

• First ever economic summit in partnership with the County of Branch

Here are the major goals for 2008:

Entrepreneurship: building a local, on-line “one stop shop” small business start up or expansion
Leadership: offering a formal leadership training
Charitable Assets: forming a charitable partnership of nonprofits to market planned giving
Youth: re-structuring the youth task force to be chaired and populated entirely by youth (16-25)

HomeTown Competitiveness Academy Coming Soon!

Those who have been exposed to the HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) concept understand how simple, yet powerful, the four strategies are in reshaping the future of our communities. HTC is probably the best example of the new trend in a bottom-up, grass roots approaches to community and economic development giving a range of citizens a voice, a role and an opportunity to participate in the future of their communities.

The HomeTown Competitiveness Academy is coming to Battle Creek October 15 through the 17. As a sponsoring county, we have the unique opportunity to send members of our community at a significantly reduced rate! ($120 instead of $600)

If you're interested in attending, please let us know or register online at http://web2.canr.msu.edu/partners/htcregistration.cfm.

Calling All Youth!

The Branch County HomeTown Competitiveness Youth Task Force is pleased to invite all interested youth (ages 12-20) to see a presentation on HomeTown Competitiveness and how they can get involved and HELP their community!

The presentation will be held on Sunday, September 16 at 3 p.m. at Coldwater City Hall, One Grand Street.

If you would like to join us (bring your parents along if you'd like), please e-mail Hillary Eley at heley@branchareachamber.com. Hope to see you on Sunday, September 16!

Two Task Forces Meet!

This week was an exciting week for the Branch County HomeTown Competitiveness Initiative! Two of the four task forces - Entrepreneurship and Youth met for the first time. Both task forces are full of excited participants looking forward to making a difference in Branch County.

The Entrepreneurship Task Force looked over much of the information provided by the HomeTown Competitiveness framework and will be prioritizing what Branch County can do to be entreprenuerial friendly.

The Youth Task Force met and brainstormed ways to recruit and engage.....YOUTH!!! We will be making a presentation to the young people in our community soon. Stay tuned!

Anyone who would like to become involved in the HTC initiative can contact Hillary Eley at heley@branchareachamber.com or learn more about it at www.branchareachamber.com/htc.htm