Chamber offering comp insurance
PETOSKEY -- The Petoskey Chamber of Commerce is offering workers compensation insurance to its members through a new partnership with Michigan Construction Industry Mutual.
"This new program will be an excellent benefit for our members," chamber President Carlin Smith said. It offers a monthly self-audit plan based on actual payroll, access to loss prevention specialists providing safety assessments and education, and various cost containment credits including a chamber membership discount.
More information on the program and participating agents is available through the Petoskey chamber at (231) 347-4150.
Business award nominees sought
TRAVERSE CITY -- Nominations are being accepted for the 2009 Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards program recognizing entrepreneurs and small businesses around the state in various categories.
More than a dozen award winners will be honored April 30 in Lansing for small businesses, family-owned companies, home-based businesses, innovation awards, business journalists and counselors and minority-owned businesses. Nominations will be accepted through Nov. 14 and nomination forms are available at http://www.michigancelebrates.biz
The awards will also include the annual "Michigan 50 Companies to Watch" listing sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation that honors 50 second-stage companies from around the state. Those nominations are also due by Nov. 14, and nominees will receive an online application form by Dec. 5.
The program is a cooperative effort of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center and the state and federal Small Business Administration.
Government sales workshop is set
TRAVERSE CITY -- A workshop for area businesses to learn about providing products and services to the government will be held Nov. 12 at the Waterfront Conference Center.
The program is "Thinking Outside the Battlefield" and features Todd Olson, program director for the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) in Northwest Michigan. He will discuss how the government purchases goods ranging from catering, produce, parts, advertising and various services. Partnering with Michigan supply chains and available assistance through PTAC will also be discussed.
The $35 registration fee includes breakfast. The event is sponsored by the Employer Training Council and sign-up information is available at (231) 922-3757.
Retailers upbeat about holidays
LANSING -- Michigan retailers are trying to stay optimistic about the prospects for the holiday shopping season in the midst of a downturn in the national economy.
More than a third of retailers surveyed by the Michigan Retailers Association expect to increase fourth-quarter sales including the holiday shopping season. The association's monthly sales index shows 37 percent or retailers expecting sales increase for the end of 2008, compared to 45 percent forecasting sales decline and 18 percent expecting no change.
"Reports of the holidays' demise are greatly exaggerated," said James Hallon, president and CEO of the association. He expects falling gasoline prices, less expensive merchandise offerings from retailers and a renewed interest in local shopping to bolster shopping numbers.
But retailers in northern Michigan are more wary of the holiday shopping season. More than 80 percent of surveyed retailers in the region expect lower fourth-quarter sales, compared to 11 percent expecting sales increases.
Statewide, the average projected sales change for the holidays is a drop of 1.2 percent.
For September, the MRA index showed 59 percent of retailers surveyed reported reduced sales for the month, while 32 percent saw sales gains.
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