IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance, commonly known as ‘The Alliance’, hosted its annual fall update at Bay College’s Iron Mountain campus, where Executive Director Mindy Meyers provided a comprehensive overview of the organization’s ongoing projects and key priorities, focusing on housing development, childcare solutions, and significant infrastructure projects.
Meyers’ presentation to the community highlighted a $600,000 grant awarded to the City of Iron Mountain by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to identify lead-contaminated water lines. She also shared additional tools being used to spur housing development beyond the MSHDA MI Neighborhood Grant (soon to be offered again in October), including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) developer tools, tax increment financing, and the Build U.P. Fund offered by INVEST U.P. “That offers some of the gap financing for developers,” she explained to the audience.
Housing remains a top priority for The Alliance. “The Alliance has an infrastructure and housing development task force group, and that group meets monthly to look over available properties, specific state programs, maybe some lending tools… everything that would entice people to want to build here, come here, and make Dickinson County home,” Meyers said. Those meetings are every 3rd Tuesday mornings at Iron Mountain City Hall.
She also discussed the importance of collaboration across the community to achieve these goals. “I just want to emphasize how wonderful it is to work with our community members, our partners, and our investors… really all this work couldn’t be done if it wasn’t for the collaboration that happens between the businesses and the Alliance,” she noted.
Meyers mentioned several other major infrastructure projects, including the City of Kingsford’s $8.4 million water main and service line replacement project in the Kingsford Heights neighborhood. She added that Kingsford is planning another multimillion-dollar project to complete the work in the next 2 years. “So please be patient when you see all the roads torn up there,” Meyers urged.
Additionally, Meyers provided updates on the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) ongoing reconstruction project on Carpenter Avenue, stretching from Hamilton Avenue to Woodward. “The project entails a complete removal and replacement of the existing roadway, structure, and utilities, along with the installation of a new storm sewer, new asphalt pavement, a new concrete curb and sidewalks,” Meyers explained. The project also includes working with the City of Kingsford to replace water mains and sanitary sewer mains and laterals that date back to the early 1920s. “It’s stuff that has to be done,” she stressed.
The Alliance’s marketing and branding task force has also been making strides in community engagement through projects like the BELONG initiative, which seeks to highlight stories of local residents who have found a sense of belonging in Dickinson County, using multimedia platforms like podcasts and YouTube. “We want people to understand if they’re not from the area, and they choose to make Dickinson County their home, that there are resources and people here, so people can feel like they are part of the community,” Meyers stated.
Looking ahead, Meyers shared her excitement for the upcoming Manufacturing Day on October 4th, where local high school freshmen will spend a day at Bay College engaging with employers in the manufacturing industry for hands-on learning and career exploration. She also previewed a healthcare career day planned for sophomore students in February, with the region’s leaders in Healthcare, thanks to partnerships with Marshfield Medical Center, Dickinson, the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center, Bellin Health, John Fornetti Dental Center, Norway Eye Care, and Bay College Iron Mountain Campus.
Meyers sees childcare as a growing concern within the county, noting its significant impact on both families and employers. “I think something that we’re really concerned with as part of the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance is childcare. It’s another topic we hear a lot about with employers and folks going back to work after having children,” Meyers said. She explained that a shortage in childcare services has created a barrier for many working families, and the Alliance is working with partners across Michigan to explore solutions. One initiative, Michigan’s Tri-Share program, is already in place to help alleviate some of the childcare burden by sharing costs between the state, employers, and families. Meyers also pointed to Marquette’s success with a recent SPARK childcare grant, which supports in-home childcare providers. “We’re looking at all of it,” she emphasized, noting the need for a comprehensive approach that involves daycare centers, in-home providers, and support for working families.
“I am really excited to round out the year and look forward to going into 2025 with our goals from the strategic planning and just continuing the great work of the Alliance,” Meyers concluded.
Fore more information on the MSDHA’s MiHope Housing Grant, see WZMQ’s previous story:
For those in Dickinson County looking to find out more about housing initiatives like the MI Neighborhood Housing programs, contact The Alliance’s Exec. Director at: Mindy.Meyers@daeda.org
For more information about the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance, visit:
For more information on the MI Tri-Share program to help with affordable child care, visit:
https://www.michigan.gov/mileap/early-childhood-education/mi-tri-share-child-care
