The
MSU Extension Economic Development Team, in collaboration with its
partners, set a goal of improving Michigan’s economy by encouraging
entrepreneurship within communities. As a result, the Creating
Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) program was born.
This year,
Bath,
Watertown and
Dewitt Townships joined forces to submit a joint
application for the program. The community is known as WDB — Where
Development Begins, and cleverly uses the first letter of every township
in their program's acronym.
Their applications in one of eight in Michigan to receive access to the CEC program.
“The
three townships represent the southern tier of Clinton County and the
northern tier of the Capital region,” says Troy Feltman, Bath Township
manager. “The whole purpose for us of getting into this in the first
place is to facilitate and stimulate entrepreneurial activity in the New
Economy.”
“[We hope to] create a cultural mindset change that
recognizes the importance and impact of small business on a local
economy,” says Rod Taylor, Dewitt Township manager. “Our focus needs to
be not only the large businesses, but more importantly, the businesses
that have the biggest impact which are small businesses.”
Source: Rod Taylor, Dewitt Township
Writer: Suban Nur Cooley
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