Monthly Archives: September 2016

Ask Dr. Universe – Oceans

What is the deepest spot in the ocean? -Lawrence, 11, Philippines 

Dear Lawrence,

Deep underwater, not too far from Guam, lies a crescent-shaped canyon called the Mariana Trench. It is home to the deepest known spot in the ocean: The Challenger Deep.

That’s what I found out from my friend Ray Lee. He teaches biology at Washington State University and studies animals that live in the deep sea.

A few explorers have made the nearly seven-mile journey to the Challenger Deep. Even though us cats aren’t big fans of water, I can imagine what it would be like to go there. We would have to go in a specially designed underwater vehicle, and we’d go through several different ocean zones along the way.

First, we’d pass through the Sunlight Zone. These are the brightest waters and we might see some fish, turtles, jellyfish, or stingrays swimming along.

We’d then pass through a part of the ocean called the Twilight Zone. Everything around us would start to get darker and darker. We might even see some critters making their own light, or bioluminescence, in the dark.

Next we’d pass through a part of the ocean called the Abyssal Zone. No sunlight would be able to reach us here. There would be no plants. The living conditions would be extreme, too. We might see extremely hot water from deep in the Earth erupting from chimney-like vents.

Lee is really curious about these vents and the creatures that are able to live in such extreme conditions. One of his favorite parts of his job is building instruments and devices that help us investigate these kinds of deep-sea environments.

The ocean can be a tricky place to study. It’s not only really dark, but the deeper you go, the greater the pressure of water pushing down on you. But Lee likes the challenge of exploring the mysterious deep.

“We are always interested in the unknown,” Lee said. “And the ocean has perhaps more things that are unknown than any other environment.”

Even deeper than the Abyssal zone is the Hadal Zone. This is where we find deep ocean trenches—and the Challenger Deep. I found out it wasn’t until pretty recently that scientists were able to go explore it.

James Cameron, an explorer and filmmaker known for “Titanic” and “Avatar,” piloted a one-man trip down to the Challenger Deep a few years ago. Before that, oceanographers Jaques Piccard and Don Walsh went to investigate.

They had to use special vehicles and equipment to reach these deep waters. Scientists have even set up underwater cameras that help us look at what life is like there. In the Hadal Zone, there are big mountains rising from the floor and possibly more sea vents. Scientists are learning about some of the creatures like sea cucumbers and really small crustaceans that call this part of our world home.

There is so much more to explore, Lawrence. Maybe one day, you’ll help us discover even more about our deep, vast oceans.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University. Send your question to Dr.Universe@wsu.edu or vote in this week’s reader poll at AskDrUniverse.wsu.edu.

Who’s Life Matters?

Earlier this year, a tragic event occurred at the Cincinnati Zoo. A 3-year old boy somehow managed to wander into the gorilla exhibit, past the protective perimeter that separates visitors from the exhibit, as well as other protective measures. He fell 10 to 15 feet into the enclosure’s protective moat.

Of  the 3 gorillas in the exhibit, 2 responded to the calls of zoo officials and retreated, while the large male gorilla, “Harambe”, advanced toward the child, eventually grabbed him, and dragged him around the enclosure.

A special team at the zoo responded to the situation by shooting the gorilla and killing it. The little boy was rushed to the hospital and found to have only received a concussion and minor injuries.

The media response to this event seemed to focus more on the killing of the gorilla than the saving of this young boy’s life. In the July 2016 issue of the Right to Life of Michigan newsletter, President Barbara Listing discussed how the reaction to this tragic story troubles her, “One news account even insinuated that Harambe was “murdered.”  I may be old school, but I didn’t  know that you could “murder” an animal.  I thought that term was reserved for humans only.”

“In addition,” Listing states, “this story completely upstaged Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe. The story also overshadowed the fact that 69  people were shot in Chicago over the same weekend ending the deadliest  May in that city in 21 years!”

“There were candlelight vigils. No, not for veterans. No, not for the children shot in Chicago – for Harambe. There were memorial services. Flowers and cards left at a gorilla statue. Protests. Even an online petition that collected more than 400,000 signatures.  But it didn’t  stop there.”

“A surprising number of people actually thought it was worth risking the little boy’s life in order to save the gorilla.” Listing goes on to give some graphic examples of people’s responses on social media, then wraps up her reaction, summarizing, “Social media was on fire! Many people were very blunt, if not crude. This incident should have been settled by “survival of the fittest.” If the kid got torn apart limb from limb, so be it.”

Where are our priorities in 21st century America?

Listing believes that this story clearly illustrates why the work of Right to Life is so vitally important, “Every day we must remain steadfast as we promote the sanctity of human life. The value of the human person, young and old, is under relentless assault. We need to stand tall and hold the line no matter the circumstance.”

She concludes, “I’m sad that this gorilla had to be shot. But I’m even more thankful that the little boy is okay. I urge the Cincinnati Zoo to fix the inadequate fence. My heart goes out to this mother and her family. I am especially praying for this three-year-old little boy. God, please get a hold of his life. With this level of determination, he could be a real world changer!”

Above all else, She’s more committed than ever to “promote the value and the sanctity of every human life,” and is very thankful to have likeminded friends and supporters by her side!

Please visit www.RTL.org for more information.

Muskegon Rotary Club’s 13Th Annual Grape Escape

MUSKEGON ROTARY CLUB’S 13TH ANNUAL GRAPE ESCAPE SUPPORTS COMMUNITY CHARITIES
September 21 Event Helps Fund Muskegon Area Promise and local Rotary Projects

MUSKEGON, MI – The Muskegon Rotary Club’s 13th Annual Grape Escape – the region’s premier wine, craft beer, and food tasting event – is scheduled for Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. and is returning to the Bella Maria’s Ristorante and Event Center, 513 W. Pontaluna Road in Norton Shores, Michigan. This newly remodeled facility, located at the Oak Ridge Golf Club, offers an expanded location for the Muskegon Rotary Club’s largest annual event.

This year’s non-profit partner is Muskegon Area Promise, and proceeds from the event will support the Promise. The Muskegon Area Promise unprecedented commitment to the young people of our community, guaranteeing that if they work hard they will be able to earn at least a two-year college degree tuition-free. Scholarships fund an Associate’s Degree or Certificate program at Muskegon Community College or Baker College of Muskegon. Eligible students are those who live in and graduate from a high school located within MAISD boundaries and have a high school graduation GPA of 3.5 or higher. Additional proceeds from the Grape Escape will help fund other Muskegon-area Rotary projects.

The annual Grape Escape tasting event features wines from over a dozen Michigan wineries, along with microbrews crafted in Michigan and local Muskegon County breweries including Pigeon Hill, Unruly and Fetch. Guests will also enjoy delicious food from hometown restaurants. Unique Silent Auction items donated by local merchants will go to the highest bidders.

“The Grape Escape is an enjoyable, relaxing evening for guests to mix and mingle as they sip wine and microbrews and sample the area’s finest foods, while helping to provide and promote programs that are beneficial to our community,” said Deni Hunter, event co-chair.

Tickets for Grape Escape are $40.00 per person. For your convenience, tickets may be purchased online through the Muskegon Rotary Club’s Facebook page (facebook.com/muskegonrotary), Muskegon Rotary Grape Escape Facebook page (facebook.com/rotarygrapeescape), or on the club’s website at www.muskegonrotary.org (click on the Grape Escape Link and then the Order Now button). Tickets may also be purchased in person at Rotary Club regular meetings.

 

Muskegon Rotary: Rotary began as an idea more than 100 years ago. Today, Rotary flourishes worldwide with 1.2 million members in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. The Muskegon Rotary Club was chartered on May 1, 1916 as Rotary International’s 216th Club. We are in District 6290, our club number is 2806. The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.

Muskegon Area Promise: Why do YOU need to further YOUR education? In days past, the West Michigan job market offered a good living without college or even a full high school education. Today we live in a globally-oriented, knowledge-driven world where 53% of Job postings require a certificate, an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree. By 2025, this number is projected to rise to 64% of Muskegon’s current workforce, only 31% have these types of post high school degrees. Megan Byard-Karaba, College Access Specialist Muskegon Area Intermediate School District 231-767-3601, mbyard@muskegonisd.org,

For additional information about the Muskegon Rotary Club’s Grape Escape event on September 21, please contact: Deni Hunter (deni@ilikemg.com) or Mary Beth Ramos (Marybeth@ramosautobody.com).

National Study Praises Michigan Elections

Pew Center calls state consistent ‘high performer’

LANSING, Mich. – The Pew Center, a nationally recognized research organization, today praised Michigan’s elections systems as a “high performer” based on multiple objective measures of election performance, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced.

“It’s no secret that Michigan has an excellent elections system and that’s thanks to all of the hard work of our state’s county, city and township election officials,” Johnson said. “But this national praise shouldn’t be a reason to stop improving. We can make Michigan the best by passing full online voter registration and secure absentee voting in the Legislature.”

Michigan would have scored even higher if two key reforms proposed by Johnson gained the support of the Legislature. Johnson continues to work with lawmakers to approve expanded secure online voter registration and allowing voters to cast an absentee ballot without having to mark a reason if they show identification at the clerk’s office.

Michigan received partial credit for online voter registration because already residents who are registered to vote in the state can update their voter registration address online at www.ExpressSOS.com.

Johnson thanked lawmakers for approving post-election audits, which boosted Michigan’s score. She called for the audits shortly after taking office in 2011 as a way to ensure local election officials are following state law and best practices when administering local elections. More than 1,000 audits have taken place.

Pew election researchers in particular complimented Michigan for data completeness, reducing the number of reported absentee ballot issues and for having more ballots from military and overseas voters returned and accepted.

The Pew study calculated and averaged a state’s overall performance by measuring more than a dozen separate indicators that make up the overall score. The indicators include absentee ballots rejected or unreturned; data completeness; disability- or illness-related voting problems; military and overseas ballots rejected or unreturned; online registration availability; post-election audit required; provisional ballots cast; provisional ballots rejected; registration or absentee ballot problems; voting information look-up tools; and voting technology accuracy.

Similar Pew Center reports for the 2008, 2010 and 2012 election cycles also called Michigan a “high-performer.”

The Pew Center report can be viewed online.

Drug Court Highlighted as Model Program for Criminal Justice Reform

The 20th Circuit Court is honored to announce that the Adult Drug Treatment Court (drug court), a specialty program for non-violent felony offenders with acute substance use disorders, was selected from over 2,000 drug courts in the United States to be featured in a nationally distributed webinar aired by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). View the webinar.

The webinar is part of a monthly webinar series produced by SAMHSA called “Road-to Recovery,” and addresses topics related to recovery from substance use disorders.  The theme for May is criminal justice reform, for which the work of our drug court was highlighted and paired with commentary from a panel of nationally recognized experts on substance abuse treatment and criminal justice reform initiatives, including the Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.  The drug court is highlighted at minutes 24:00 and 43:18 respectively.

Numerous national studies have clearly indicated that drug courts are effective at reducing recidivism, reducing drug use, are more cost-effective than incarcerating offenders, and improve a participant’s quality of life.  “We see considerable personal growth with the participants in our drug court.  Participants get sober and enter recovery, find jobs, secure housing, repair relationships, and become more positive and stable community members in Ottawa County” says Honorable Mark A. Feyen, drug court judge.

A study conducted by Grand Valley State University in 2014 demonstrates the adult drug treatment court significantly reduces new crime and repeated drug use among high risk and high need offenders.  Notably, drug court participants were 73% less likely to commit a new crime within three years of discharge from the drug court when compared to a similar group of people who were sentenced to traditional probation.

The drug court is funded by time-limited grants annually awarded by the Michigan Supreme Court, Department of Justice, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

From the Ottawa County Courts
20th Circuit | 58th District | Probate

Courage…The Guts to Fail

By: Sylvia Allen

Someone quipped that a classified newspaper ad read: “For sale. Parachute. Only used once, never opened, small stain.”

I realize that we cannot afford to fail in some endeavors. But I also know that we cannot afford NOT to fail in most of what we do. Unfortunately, too many of us live by the motto: If at first you don’t succeed, don’t admit that you tried. Why? We often feel ashamed or embarrassed when we fall flat.

In his book THE COURAGE TO FAIL (McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1993), Art Mortell tells about a conversation he had with baseball’s Lou Brock. It took place when Brock held the record for stolen bases. He was about 35 years old at the time and his days as a professional player were winding down. Brock was talking about why he successfully stolemore bases than younger, faster players.

“When you start out in baseball,” Brock said, “you’re young and you have the speed and reflexes. However, when you try to steal second base and you get thrown out, it’s a long walk back to the dugout, with 40,000 fans watching you. When you reach my age, you come to understand that records are not set by being the quickest, but by the willingness to look bad in the eyes of others.”

There are other ways to avoid failure throughout life:
* Never ask anyone out. There will be no possibility of rejection and embarrassment.
* Never ask for a promotion. That way you will not risk the humiliation of being turned down.
* Never go back to school. You cannot fail a class you do not take.
* Never change careers. You’ll never fail at something you never try.
* Never try anything you’ve never done before.

If success is just avoiding failure, I don’t want it. But if success is about pursuing a passion or finding the guts to risk in order to experience life fully, then I want it. Even if it means a lot of long walks back to the dugout while everyone is watching.

Allen Consulting,
89 Middletown Road,
Holmdel, NJ 07733
732 946 2711
cell  732 241 1144
sylvia@allenconsulting.com

 

Muskegon Market Report

New Innovations Hub In Muskegon

Grand Valley State Universitygvsu is opening a business innovation center in downtown Muskegon. This new space will help build and launch innovative businesses throughout the region.

The Muskegon Innovation Hub at Grand Valley, formerly the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center, will provide all types of business support services for entrepreneurs, start ups and growing businesses. The new co-working space, named CoLaunch, is specifically designed to create a community where entrepreneurs and start ups can work in a collaborative environment as they build their businesses. CoLaunch will be available on a drop-in or month-to-month subscription basis and will provide a wide variety of amenities.

The Muskegon Innovation Hub is customer-service oriented and offers a highly personalized experience for each tenant. The Hub has experts available to help with product development, technology, product commercialization, entrepreneurship, business planningand modeling, and more. Tenants also have access to in-house expertise from the Michigan Small Business Development Center, as well as other business resource partners.

The Muskegon Innovation Hub will hold a community open house on June 20 from 5-7 p.m. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.

 

Muskegon County Airport Welcomes New Manager!

jeffrey

Jeffrey S. Tripp
Airport Manager

The Muskegon County Airport welcomed Jeffrey S. Tripp as its new Airport Manager.  Tripp has been involved in Airport Management since 1996 performing the full-range of business functions necessary to operate, develop and maintain commercial service and general aviation airports.

He worked his way up the ranks of the airport management field in Arizona at the Prescott Airport, the Scottsdale Airport and the Mesa-Falcon Field Airport. He most recently served as the Airport Director in Redmond, Oregon.

In 2014, Tripp was named “Airport Executive of the Year” by Arizona Airports Association, and the Prescott Airport received “Airport of the Year” honors from the Arizona Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division.

“I am happy to be in Muskegon and look forward to the opportunity to engage with the business and tourism communities to enhance air service opportunities, attract new business to the airport and airport business park,” Tripp said.

 

$1.1 million Waterfront Development Investments

boatThere is a lot going on in downtown Muskegon, including many projects focused on developing downtown waterfront parks. These projects amount to roughly $1.1 million in investments. Some of these projects include a new Rotary Park, some upgrades to the dock where the cruise ships will be stopping, a new ticket booth and some electric and water upgrades at Heritage Landing.

Rotary Park totals roughly $710,000, which is more than half of the total money invested. This includes a handicap accessible playground, fishing bridge and a kayak launch.

The Cruise Ship dock at Heritage Landing totals about $243,000 and will provide cruise ships a beautiful place to dock during their 10 plus visits this summer.

The ticket booth upgrade and water and electric upgrades total roughly $208,849 and will help to improve Heritage Landing. Both projects are expected to be completed by June 30.

There are many projects being looked at for future possibilities, but they are currently in the fundraising and early planning phases.

Governor Snyder Signs Coercive Abortion Prevention Act

Right to Life of Michigan applauds Governor Snyder for signing CAPA

On June 8, Governor Rick Snyder signed into law HB 4787 and HB 4830, the Coercive Abortion Prevention Act (CAPA). The legislation will help stop coerced abortions from happening in Michigan.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “This wonderful news marks the end of a decade-long journey to stop coerced abortions, an everyday occurrence in Michigan.”

Research confirms that a substantial number of women feel forced by boyfriends, spouses, parents, and others to have an abortion against their will. Women are coerced through threats of physical violence, withdrawal of financial support, loss of housing and violation of employment contracts or other legal agreements.

In legislative debates, even elected officials who voted against CAPA acknowledged coerced abortions happen. Trying to downplay these acts of injustice, they suggested that only 3 percent of abortions are coerced. That would mean in 2015 there were 815 Michigan women forced to take the life of their own child against their will.

Listing said, “How can someone downplay coerced abortions while admitting that it happens to hundreds of women in Michigan every year?”

CAPA passed the Michigan Senate by a vote of 26-11 on May 25, and a House vote of 65-43 on March 24.

CAPA adds to Michigan’s current anti-extortion/coercion provisions by including coercion to abort as a specific crime and establishes penalties.

Parts of CAPA were passed into law in 2012 through the Prolife Omnibus Act. These provisions included a screening process at abortion clinics and requiring the clinics to post a notification that coercion to abort is illegal. These delayed provisions can now be put into place.

Listing said, “The abortion industry in Michigan has profited from thousands of women who never chose to have an abortion. It’s time for that to end.”

Ask Dr. Universe – Ice Cream

How is ice cream made? –Israel, 7

Dear Israel,

It just so happens that July is National Ice Cream Month. To celebrate, I decided to whip up some homemade ice cream. You can try it at home, too.

Put milk, sugar, and vanilla into a freezer bag and seal it up tight. Fill another gallon freezer bag with ice and rock salt. Place the liquid mix bag inside the ice bag and give it a good long shake. Some scientists might call this part “agitating.” After five minutes or so, you’ll notice the liquid mix in your bag becomes solid. Then you can dig in with a spoon. Find all the instructions for Ice Cream-in-a-Bag at AskDrUniverse.wsu.edu.

After making my own homemade tuna-flavored ice cream, I decided to take a trip to the Washington State University Creamery to see how the professionals make ice cream for Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe.

I met up with our friend John Haugen, the creamery manager. Each year at the WSU creamery, students make more than 18,000 gallons of ice cream. That’s a lot of scoops.

Just like our Ice Cream-in-a-Bag recipe, their recipe uses a mix of milk, cream, and sugar that’s frozen in a way to prevent crystals from forming and incorporates enough air to make it soft. At the creamery, milk flows through pipes into big stainless steel tanks that have been specially engineered.

The students add a bit of fat to the mix in the form of cream, which gives the ice cream a smooth texture. When the fat mixes with air, it helps create small pockets in the ice cream. It makes the texture smoother. In fact, a scoop of ice cream is about half air.

When making ice cream, we need to keep the ingredients blended together. With all the liquids going in the vat, we also add a few solids like dry milk, followed by the sugar. Then, we heat it up to 155 degrees to pasteurize the milk and kill any bad bacteria that might have snuck into the mix.

We also don’t want the cream to rise to the top or different parts to separate. This is where we add in what’s called an emulsifier. One of the original emulsifiers that did the trick was actually egg.

We also want to keep the ice cream from getting too many ice crystals. So, we add in a bit of carrageenan, a kind of seaweed. But it’s just a tiny bit. It helps keep the ice cream from forming those tiny ice crystals.

The liquid goes through a homogenizer, forcing the mix through a small opening and breaking down milk fats into smaller pieces to make the ice cream even smoother.

Finally, the mix goes through a specially engineered machine to bring the temperature down. Then it gets sent through a freezing barrel and packed into boxes until it’s ready to eat. The best part of the job is eating the ice cream, Haugen adds.

Sometimes there’s no better way to find out how something is made than to give it a try. Tell me about your ice cream experiments sometime at Dr.Universe@wsu.edu.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University. Send your question to Dr.Universe@wsu.edu.

Right to Life of Michigan PAC Endorses Donald Trump for President

The Right to Life of Michigan Political Action Committee (RLM-PAC) has endorsed Donald Trump for president of the United States and his running mate Mike Pence for vice president.

Donald Trump has promised support for important prolife positions, especially judges that believe in the rule of law. Indiana Governor Mike Pence has a long track record of supporting prolife legislation, both in Indiana and in Congress.

RLM-PAC Chairman Paul Miller said, “The stakes in this election season could not be higher. Every year, more than one million lives are lost to abortion. We face a choice between allowing people to have a say on abortion laws or entrenching abortion-on-demand through court order for years.”

Trump said he came to his prolife views after watching a friend go through a crisis pregnancy and choose life. Trump released a list of potential U.S. Supreme Court justices that was widely praised by prolife organizations and other groups that believe judges shouldn’t rule by decree. Trump said he would defund the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, and sign a ban on late-term abortions into law.

Miller said, “Trump’s campaign theme has been about giving the people a voice again. When it comes to abortion, people don’t have a say because unelected and biased judges dictate what the law will be.”

The Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, and her running mate Tim Kaine both support abortion-on-demand through all nine months of pregnancy. Clinton has said any judge she appoints must support abortion-on-demand. Clinton has been a long-time supporter of partial-birth abortion, a barbaric procedure now outlawed throughout the country. She has called for repealing the federal Hyde Amendment, which would result in forcing every taxpayer to pay for abortions.

Miller said, “Clinton’s positions on abortion are truly radical. They are shared by very few Americans, but unfortunately by many judges. She would appoint the kind of justices who believe partial-birth abortion–brutally killing a baby in the process of birth–is as fundamental a right as things like free speech and a free press.”

The future of the U.S. Supreme Court hangs in the balance following the death of Antonin Scalia. It’s believed there are currently three votes to overturn Roe v. Wade, and the next president could appoint as many as three justices to the Court.

Miller said, “Most Americans support bans on taxpayer funding of abortions, late-term abortion bans and parental consent requirements. A vote for Trump is a vote to protect these popular laws and potentially overturn Roe v. Wade. The people could finally have a voice and a vote on the issue of abortion again. A vote for Clinton is a vote for unelected judges who substitute their own personal opinions for those of the voters. Clinton will force people to pay for abortions and threaten basic conscience protections.”

Information on the positions of all four candidates is available on the Right to Life of Michigan website, www.RTL.org.

Shoreline Vision Welcome’s Their Newest Provider

Continuing in its goal to be the premier, fully integrated regional eye care provider with the mission to preserve and improve vision, Shoreline Vision announces the addition of Dr. David Rawlinson to its medical staff.

Dr. David Rawlinson is a native of Michigan where he graduated from Hope College and went on to earn his doctorate in medicine from Michigan State University.  Dr. Rawlinson completed his internship and ophthalmology residency at St. John Health System in Detroit.  Dr. Rawlinson was honored for scoring in the top 1% of all physicians on his Medical Board Examination.

Dr. Rawlinson relocated with his family from Florida where he worked as a comprehensive ophthalmologist with special interests in family eye care, advanced cataract care, and LASIK.  Dr. Rawlinson selected ophthalmology as a profession because he “believes that excellent vision is essential for functioning and enjoying the world in which we live.”  Dr. Rawlinson is currently accepting new patients.  To schedule your exam, visit shorelinevision.com or call 888.739.9009.

Shoreline Vision is a comprehensive medical practice that provides eye care services from eyeglasses and comprehensive eye exams to retina care and cataract surgery at the only surgical center dedicated solely to eyes.  With 16 providers and over 150 employees, Shoreline Vision is the leading eye care practice along the lakeshore and is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to every patient, using the best technology, research, and continuing education for their doctors and staff.

In addition to Muskegon, Shoreline Vision has offices in North Muskegon, Norton Shores, Spring Lake, Grand Haven, and Fremont.  For more information call Jennifer Scofield, Shoreline Vision Marketing Manager at 231.737.4717.

USDA Awards $55,000 to Great Lakes Ag-Tech Business Incubator for Business Development

Ottawa County, MI – On July 8, 2016, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) signed a grant agreement to provide the Great Lakes Ag-Tech Business Incubator (GLATBI) with $55,000 to enhance their marketing, outreach, and training efforts.  The GLATBI, located in Ottawa County, serves entrepreneurs, farmers, and existing businesses who have an ag-technology idea or invention they would like to develop, either into a business or to license to other entities. Ottawa County ranks third in the State in total farm receipts, making it a perfect location to discover and develop ag-technologies.

The USDA funding, which comes from the Rural Business Development Grant program, will help the GLATBI promote their services and better connect with entities seeking assistance. The Rural Business Development Grant program is a competitive program designed to support targeted technical assistance and other related activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues.

Development of ag-technology ideas and inventions can create new businesses and jobs that will spark the economy in Ottawa County and around the State. GLATBI provides hands-on, customized business services to help clients address their specific challenges as they launch their ag-technology into the marketplace.  The GLATBI’s eight sponsor organizations also use their expertise to assist staff in addressing each client’s unique business hurdles.

Once an entity meets with the GLATBI about their ag-technology, staff uses their industry resources to assess the viability of the entity’s concept or invention before signing an agreement to provide services to the entity.  This ensures a high level of success for both the GLATBI and their clients.  There is no upfront fee for clients to receive services.  When the client begins generating revenue, then a portion of that revenue, called a business services fee, is paid to the GLATBI. The amount of the business services fee depends upon whether the client builds a business, licenses their product, or if the client is an existing business.

The GLATBI is an equal opportunity provider.  To learn more, please email info@agtechincubator.com, call 616.738.4852, or visit www.agtechincubator.com.