Fall Conference Agenda

8:00 a.m. Registration Opens

8:45 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
Amy Shamroe, Mayor, City of Traverse City

9:00 a.m. Aligning State Priorities for a Lasting Impact in Your Region
Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) is at the center of driving policies and initiatives that strengthen the state’s competitiveness, foster business growth, and build vibrant communities. This session will highlight LEO’s comprehensive approach to economic development, including strategies that align talent, business, infrastructure, and community investments. Panelists will share insights on current initiatives, collaborative opportunities, and how state-level policies are designed to empower local communities to work together toward sustainable growth.
Susan Corbin, Director, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO)
Luke Forest, Director, Engagement, Community and Worker Economic Transition Office
Sarah Lucas, Director, Office of Rural Prosperity 

10:00 a.m. Networking Break

10:15 a.m. Community Coordination of Shared Water and Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure
Initial research focused on analyzing the use of Michigan Act 425 Agreements as tools for infrastructure expansion and economic development across jurisdictional lines. However, through comprehensive outreach and interviews with local government units possessing water or sewer infrastructure in the 10-county region of Northwest Lower Michigan, it has become clear that a broader scope is required. While intergovernmental agreements remain the most common approach to infrastructure coordination, the majority are not Act 425 Agreements as originally assumed. Instead, communities are primarily utilizing Franchise Agreements and Master Utility Agreements, with Annexation rarely – if ever – considered. These findings point to a broader, more complex landscape of collaborative infrastructure planning. This research will explore the range of agreement types in use, analyze patterns within opportunity zones, and highlight the implications for economic development without overemphasizing a single legal mechanism.
Robert Carson, AICP, Regional Director of Community Development, Networks Northwest
Zach Vega, AICP, Community Planner, Networks Northwest

11:15 a.m. Networking Break

11:30 a.m. The Economic Impact of Health Care and the Michigan Impact of OBBBA
The health of a community is inseparable from its economic vitality. A strong workforce depends on access to affordable healthcare, while thriving local economies support the infrastructure needed for healthier lives. This session explores the powerful intersection of healthcare and economic development, highlighting how investments in public health, mental health, workforce wellness, and healthcare infrastructure drive business attraction, talent retention, and long-term prosperity. We’ll also examine the impact of the “Big, Beautiful Bill” – a landmark investment package that dramatically reduces Medicaid payments to healthcare systems. While the bill provides new funding opportunities for rural health care efforts, it also creates challenges for healthcare, including short implementation timelines, workforce shortages, compliance pressures, and the risk of economic development priorities outpacing local healthcare capacity. Participants will gain practical insights, real-world examples, and strategies for leveraging health and hospital system resources while navigating these emerging risks to ensure sustainable and equitable growth.
Adam Carlson, Senior Vice President, Advocacy, Michigan Health and Hospital Association
Jim Lee, Senior Vice President, Data Policy & Analytics, Michigan Health and Hospital Association

12:30 p.m. Lunch/Membership Meeting

1:15 p.m. Guiding a Successful and Vibrant Environment for Small Businesses
The support of economic developers ensures that small businesses across Michigan can thrive. Navigating challenges such as workforce recruitment and retention, securing funding for innovation, integrating AI into operations, managing energy expenses, overseeing remote teams, and complying with earned sick time regulations are all areas where we can continue to play a vital role. Get the latest insights into Michigan’s small business climate from one of the state’s leading voices – an Association that works daily to build a vibrant and successful environment for entrepreneurs.
Moderator: Kelli Saunders, Vice President of Policy and Engagement, Small Business Association of Michigan
Panelists: Michael DeBruyn, President, Great Lakes Stainless
Russ Knopp, Owner, Comfort Keepers
Courtney Lorenz, Founder & Idealist, Cultured Kombucha

2:15 p.m. Networking Break

2:30 p.m. Blue Tech at the Water’s Edge: The Freshwater Research & Innovation Center at Discovery Pier
Traverse City is positioning itself as a Great Lakes hub for the “blue economy.” This session spotlights the new Freshwater Research & Innovation Center (FRIC) at Discovery Pier – an initiative uniting the Discovery Center & Pier, Northwestern Michigan College, Michigan Technological University, Traverse Connect, and 20Fathoms. Together, they’re co-locating a working pier, advanced labs, and a startup incubator to accelerate freshwater technologies, from sensors and autonomous systems to PFAS detection, while building a year-round talent pipeline. Attendees will learn how FRIC’s 38,000-sq-ft facility and on-water access create a launchpad where research becomes commercialization, student learning becomes careers, and regional collaboration becomes global impact. We’ll cover the project’s partners, the latest milestones – including 2025 groundbreaking and public investment – and how 20Fathoms’ programs will connect innovators with pilots, customers, and capital. Come explore practical ways economic developers, communities, and employers can plug into this blue-tech engine for jobs, resilience, and freshwater stewardship.
Moderator: Nick Posavetz, Vice President, Plante Moran Realpoint
Panelists: Warren Call, President and CEO, Traverse Connect
Matt McDonough, Chief Executive Officer, Discovery Center and Pier
Jason Slade, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Northwestern Michigan College
Craig Wesley, Executive Director, 20Fathoms

3:30 p.m. Adjourn