Business Incentives

Incentives & Programs

Michigan Works!

Michigan Works!is the locally governed state workforce development program. Our local Michigan Works! office offers several programs designed to assist employers including:

Michigan's Talent Bank and Job Bank, an online database of people seeking jobs as well as a database of jobs that employers are seeking to fill.
On the Job Training (OJT). For qualified employees, the OJT program will reimburse an employer up to 50% of the employees wages during an agreed upon training time period.
Work Opportunity Tax Credits. Michigan Works! can assist an employer with meeting eligibility requirements for this tax credit.
Subsidized Employment. This is a 100% wage reimbursement to employers hiring Michigan's Work First program participants.
Employee recruiting and screening services.

University/Monday through TEC Education Center

The Center provides a state-of-the-art facility providing seamless academic and career technical training in high-tech, high-wage and high-demand occupations. This Center provides standard and customized employee training, retraining for individuals who have lost their jobs or seeking new technical or vocational skills as well as certificate and degree programs for individuals seeking professional and technical employment. The 47,000 square foot facility offers training in a wide range of technical and industrial areas as well as Certificate, two-year and four-year university degree programs. The facility provides space for customized training for industry as well as interactive television classrooms to access university and community college courses from eight affiliated schools.

Otsego County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (OCBRA)

The OCBRA is established as a local authority in order to allow a company to access financial incentives available from the State of Michigan (MBT Credits, grants and loans) and locally (Tax Increment Finance).

Michigan's Brownfield law is designed to encourage and assist developers who want to return property to productive use more quickly and at a lower cost than before, while still protecting human health and natural resources. Owners and operators of contaminated sites are no longer required to pay for cleanup actions unless they caused the contamination. Flexible cleanup standards give developers the option of proposing a solution to historical contamination based on future use of the property.

The OCBRA can assist a developer with the redevelopment of contaminated, blighted or functionally obsolete properties through the use of TIF to conduct environmental assessments, prepare Baseline Environmental Assessment and Due Care Plans as well as preparing and approving Brownfield Plans necessary for securing Brownfield Tax Credits (from 12.5 to 20% depending on the size, type and location of the project).

Small Business Assistance Program

The Otsego County Economic Alliance (OCEA) is an Affiliate Office of the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Centers of Michigan (SBTDC) Region 3. The Region 3 SBTDC is one of 12 offices statewide, providing services and support to the Michigan small business community in the areas of counseling, training, research, and advocacy.

Bruce Goldammer, the SBTDC consultant serving Otsego County, provides free, one-on-one assistance to develop business plans, obtaining information, solving problems, building managerial skills, and providing resources and contacts. Access to this assistance is through the OCEA.

Procurement & Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC)

The PTACs of Michigan work to help all Michigan companies successfully obtain and perform under local, state and federal government contracts. Since 2002, the PTACs of Michigan have assisted businesses in securing more than $1 billion in contract awards, and we are ready to help you too.

Our mission is to generate employment and improve the general economic condition of Michigan by providing local companies with comprehensive assistance as they enter the government marketplace.

From our no-fee, expert counseling services and electronic Bid-Match system to our full calendar of seminars, workshops and trade shows, we help business like yours position themselves to identify opportunities and expand by selling to the government.

Member offices of the PTACs of Michigan, which each serve as a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), are funded in part through a cooperative agreement from the Department of Defense (DOD) through a program that is administered by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The content of any written materials or verbal communications of the PTAC does not necessarily reflect the official views of or imply endorsement by DOD or DLA.

PTAC of Northeast Michigan
Denise Hoffmeyer or Tammy Moore
P.O. Box 711
Onaway, MI 49765

Phone: 989-733-8540
Fax: 989-733-8069

Otsego County Economic Alliance Online Site & Building Inventory

The OCEA maintains an inventory of vacant industrial, commercial and office buildings and vacant industrial sites on the OCEA website. The OCEA also works to maintain an inventory of available for-lease retail and office space which is also provide on its website. The OCEA does not broker the sale or lease of properties, but does facilitate and coordinate prospect tours of available properties at a prospect's request. The OCEA welcomes updates from brokers.

Access to State Level Economic Development Services
Through our partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation we can help you access state level services and resources to help your company. We also work closely with our local Michigan Works! Office and can assist you with accessing workforce development, training and recruitment services they provide.

PACE

Public Act Number 270 of 2010 ("Act 270") authorizes local units of government to adopt Property Assessed Clean Energy ("PACE") programs to promote the installation of energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems by owners of commercial or industrial property within a district designated by the local unit of government. Act 270 allows private commercial lenders to finance energy projects; authorizes local units of government to issue bonds, notes and other indebtedness; and authorizes the assessment of properties for the cost of the energy projects. Act 270 provides for repayment to the local unit of government or the private lender through a voluntary property assessment. The property assessment remains with the property and has the same priority as other property tax and assessment liens in the event of foreclosure.

Lean and Green MichiganTM ("LAGM") has developed a collaborative approach to PACE programs for local units of government by standardizing the administrative and legal process under which PACE programs are created and managed. Many local units of government throughout the state joined have or are in the process of joining LAGM utilizing a "shared services" approach to eliminate upfront and ongoing program costs and duplication. Further, this approach creates one efficient statewide market, allowing property owners, lenders and clean energy contractors to utilize a standardized process as they employ PACE financing in multiple jurisdictions throughout the state.

Research & Information

We can provide research and information to support your company. Whether it's finding a machine rigger or developing a potential customer list, we can research and provide the information you need.

Export Assistance

We can identify and put you in contact with appropriate state and federal export assistance providers.

Liaison with Local Government

We can ask the questions for you! The Alliance can act as an ombudsman to look into issues your company may have involving City, County, Township or Village government. We can do research and coordinate meetings.