By By JESSICA SIEFF/ Niles Daily Star
Niles area business owners are fully aware of the challenges that lay at their desks in the wake of a struggling economy.
Those working in manufacturing and industry especially, find themselves in a world that is in the midst of constant change and many are just trying to find ways to keep their businesses afloat.
Now, the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance (SMEGA) is organizing a running list of informative meetings and speakers over the coming months to help inform business owners on what they can do to stay open and viable in this current economy.
"Many business owners worked their way up from humble beginnings and learned how to be successful through good and bad experiences," said SMEGA executive director, Shelley Klug.
"In a great economy with manufacturing humming along, there is time and a bit of forgiveness to get through those experiences and come out ahead. Today, there is not enough time to try a little of this and that; businesses need to know what actually worked for others, what will work for them, and how they can make any necessary changes quickly. They just don't have time to waste."
For those who have seen their bottom line shrink along with overall production at the big three auto companies in Detroit, SMEGA, along with the League of Women Voters, has lined up Dr. David Cole, director of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor to speak at Corvette Central in Sawyer tonight at 7 p.m.
Cole's appearance is open to the public and will focus on the changes currently underway in the automotive industry – changes that have left many suppliers looking for other avenues of revenue.
"It can be a pleasant surprise for some to find out they may be only a short step away from diversifying into a completely new market or moving current products into different markets," Klug said. "They may find new ways to save money within the organization – even strong companies can often find cost savings. The State of Michigan has several programs to help and we are trying to get representatives of these programs to come to southwest Michigan to make the information more accessible to our business owners."
Diversifying into new markets seems to be the buzz phrase these days and for manufacturers it may prove to be a necessity. But outside the automotive market that has dominated much of the state of Michigan, there are other opportunities for those in industry, Klug said, including those within government, military and foreign markets.
"Government contracts can include local, state, federal, and specifically, military," she said. "The government is a big industry. There are organizations who can help businesses get entered into electronic bid matching, help with the forms, and provide seminars about marketing your business to attract government contracts. There are organizations offering help to those who want to expand into foreign markets as well."
Also on the agenda for June the Berrien County Manufacturers Council will host a special presentation on how to "manage your business through the economic crisis" with guest speaker Mark Miller of Klute Miller Johnson. Being held on June 25 at 8 a.m. at the Berrien County RESA building in Berrien Springs, the presentation is open to members and non-members, with a $5 charge for non-members.
Also planned, a lesson in "Buying Michigan First! Selling to the state of Michigan," July 13 in Centerville, open to the public free of charge, and later on in that month, a lesson in financing by area experts and in August a Manufacturing Diversification Summit at the Southwestern Michigan College campus in Dowagiac.
"Finding new markets to replace the auto industry, financing, (especially after a couple of less profitable years) rising costs of doing business including health care, transportation, and materials/supplies, and how to be sure you're diversifying into an area that will be profitable considering the investment and risk," are just some of the challenges and concerns Klug said she's hearing come from area business owners.
The summit will look at opportunities that exist in "high growth markets" including wind energy, aerospace, defense and homeland security and medical devices.
In September, SMEGA will present a special meeting focusing on how to work within government contracts.
Options that just might give struggling business owners and manufacturers a little bit of hope in a time that is testing their will, resources and overall endurance.
"Nobody wants to sit around and watch their company close," Klug said. "Everybody wants to be proactive to prevent loss of jobs, it's just knowing what the next best action should be that is the challenge. We're trying to offer opportunities to get useful, specific, and real information – not just sales pitches for an organization. We hope everyone will get at least one good idea that will be of value and produce real results."
For more information, contact the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance at 683-1833.