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OUR Resources 

What can we do for your business?

  • At Otsego County Economic Alliance, our mission is to empower businesses through data-driven insights and local expertise. We meticulously track data to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the area's economic landscape.

     

    By identifying trends, highs, and lows, we provide valuable information that helps entrepreneurs make strategic decisions.

     

    Join us in navigating the evolving business environment, and let us support you in achieving your goals with confidence.

  • The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a statewide network funded in part through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDC has 11 regional offices throughout Michigan. We work jointly with the Lake Huron Regional office located on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University. Through this partnership we provide a full-time business consultant who can accommodate small businesses at their businesses, via phone or Zoom with free, confidential one-on-one technical assistance, training, and research.

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    Whether you are a start-up or an existing business, we can help. Our SBDC Representative Tammy DuPuis can provide free, personalized, one-on-one assistance in areas such as:

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    • Developing a business or a marketing plan

    • Financial analysis

    • Skills management

    • Problem solving 

    • Building management skills

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    Visit www.michiganSBDC.org to complete an intake form and Tammy will reach out to help you.

  • At Otsego County Economic Alliance, we understand that building a successful business requires more than just a great idea.

     

    Our mission is to provide resource assistance by connecting you with the right individuals and organizations that can propel your venture forward.

     

    We are dedicated to offering the correct recommendations and resources tailored for businesses of any size, ensuring that you have everything you need to thrive in today's competitive landscape.

     

    Let us help you take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey.

  • Otsego County Economic Alliance (OCEA) understands the complexities of starting a business, especially if you have never created a business before. Access to mentors, networking with peers, marketing planning and projection development are just a few of the areas that OCEA can help start-up businesses.

     

    In 2024, OCEA launched a business incubator program to bring start-up service
    business together under OCEA’s roof to provide all the start-up assistance one could need while aiming to expand our local professional service provider network.

     

    If you are interested in joining this network, reach out to us and we can introduce you to the “business incubator” concept.

  • Otsego County Economic Alliance (OCEA) is the County leader in addressing housing challenges in Otsego County. In 2017, OCEA launched a housing initiative in response to employer concerns regarding workforce challenges related to the lack of housing in Otsego County.

     

    As a result, OCEA brought together employers from throughout Otsego County to obtain housing data which facilitated the 2020 multi-million dollar private investment into the development of a new 224 unit market rate apartment community in Gaylord. This development has seen a waiting list for its units since it broke ground.

     

    Despite the consistent private housing investment since 2020, housing availability continued to impact workforce needs driving OCEA to conduct an independent Otsego County Housing Assessment in 2022. This assessment provided substantiative data to support the continued need for large housing investment. In response to continued private investment from local and national businesses who added over 600 new jobs in 2024 in Otsego County, OCEA hired a consultant to update its 2022 Housing Assessment.

  • One of the biggest barriers for people seeking to rejoin the workforce is the cost of child care — resulting in more and more parents being left out of the work force. MI Tri-Share, an innovative bipartisan program introduced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was created to change all that.

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    Through MI Tri-Share, the cost of an employee's child care is shared equally among the employer, the employee and the State of Michigan — a three-way split — with coordination being provided regionally by a MI Tri-Share facilitator hub. With MI Tri-Share, parents can get back to work knowing that their kids are safe, cared for and have the opportunity to succeed.

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    Otsego County Economic Alliance is the only Mi Tri Share Facilitator Hub providing this unique benefit to businesses in Northeastern Michigan. This innovative program allows employers to retain and attract employees while allowing employees to reduce their monthly childcare expenses.

     

    Let us help you with attracting and retaining employees through this program – give our office a call.

  • Are you passionate about entrepreneurship?

    SCORE is always on the lookout for people that are committed to our goal of fueling small business success. SCORE volunteers provide confidential business mentoring services, both in person and online. 

     

    As a SCORE Volunteer you can:

     

    • Share your success and expertise through mentoring

    • Lead workshops and seminars

    • Provide online or telephone mentoring directly from your home or office

    • Serve in a leadership capacity with SCORE

    • Serve in another capacity at SCORE (Marketing, IT, administration, finance, fundraising, HR, etc.)

    • Have flexibility with your volunteer time

     

     You may visit their official website at https://www.score.org/. 

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