Wednesday
Northwest Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, 5:30-8 p.m., Bayshore Resort, 883 E. Front St., TC; companies, municipalities, chambers discuss their commitment to economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity; free; register with Patty O'Donnell, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, 929-5039.
"How to Really Jump-start Your Business," 6:30-8:30 p.m. Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 E. Grandview Parkway, TC; presented by Traverse City Chapter of SCORE; $30; limited seating, 995-7105 or on-line at www.score-tvc.org.
Thursday
Creating Housing Choices, 2008 Regional Conference for Northwest Michigan, 9:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. NMC-Hagerty Center, TC; workshops and presentations on regional housing needs; $45 for full day; $30 lunch and keynote, $55 late registration; Sarah Lucas, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, 929-5000.
Workshop on "Renewable energy and your farm" sponsored by the Michigan Land Use Institute; 7-9 p.m. at the Michigan Works! office at 1209 Garfield Ave., Suite C, Traverse City; features renewable energy expert Conrad Heins; register through Julie Cunningham at (231) 941-6584, ext. 10.
March 18-19
Free two-day workshop on home buying offered through the Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency; classes from 6-9 p.m. at the agency office at 3963 Three Mile Road, Traverse City; register at 800-632-7334 or (231) 947-3780.
March 19
Free workshop on purchasing crop insurance for local farms; co-sponsored by the Michigan Land Use Institute and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency; 7-9 p.m. at the Michigan Works! office at 1209 Garfield Ave., Suite C, Traverse City; features Mike Alston of the USDA; register with Judy Cunningham at (231) 941-6584, ext. 10.
Northwest Michigan Council of Governments Zoning Board of Appeals Training, 7-9:30 p.m. Charlevoix Public Library, 220 W. Clinton St., Charlevoix; $55, 929-5000.
Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours; 5-7 p.m. at the Mercato Marketplace at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons.
March 20
Annual meeting of the Traverse Bay Economic Development Corp.; speaker is Robert Marcusse, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council; 2:30 p.m. at the NMC Hagerty Center Great Lakes campus; sign-up at www.tcchamber.org
Marigold lunch series on "Maximizing returns on community involvement and sponsorships"; at the Traverse City Golf & Country Club; register at www.GoMarigold.com
Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m. Elk Rapids Historical Society, free, 264-8202.
Benzie County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m. at Dinghy's Restaurant in Frankfort.
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