partnerships
partnerships
& initiatives
& initiatives
Working Together to Move Huron County Forward
Economic development is a team effort. The challenges and opportunities facing Huron County rarely fit neatly within one organization, community, or county boundary.
Huron County EDC works with local governments, businesses, economic development organizations, workforce and education partners, nonprofits, state and federal agencies, and other organizations to bring the right people and resources together around shared priorities.
Sometimes we lead. Sometimes we convene. Sometimes we support the work of another organization. What matters is building the partnerships needed to move good work forward.
Partnerships in Action
Economic development rarely happens through the work of a single organization. The Huron County EDC participates in regional collaboratives and maintains relationships with organizations and agencies that bring different expertise, resources, and perspectives to the table. These partnerships help us connect local businesses, communities, and projects with resources beyond Huron County.
Regional Economic Development Collaboration
Huron County EDC works closely with economic development organizations throughout Michigan's Prosperity Region 6 to address shared challenges, coordinate opportunities, and strengthen economic development across the region. These relationships allow us to share information and expertise, collaborate on regional initiatives, and connect projects with resources that extend beyond county boundaries.
A great example of this is the Eastern Michigan Small Business Network. This regional collaboration connects entrepreneurs and small businesses with resources, technical assistance, and other support.
Workforce & Employer Collaboration
Workforce challenges rarely stop at county lines. The EDC works closely with GST Michigan Works! and other regional partners to connect employers with workforce resources and strengthen the pipeline between employers, workers, and education and training opportunities.
The EDC also participates in the Health & Human Services Employer-Led Collaborative, led by the Thumb Community Health Partnership, which brings employers and partners together to address workforce needs within the region's health and human services sector.
Regional Child Care Collaboration
Access to child care is both a quality-of-life issue and an important part of a strong workforce. Through the Region 6 Child Care Collaborative, the EDC works with partners across the region to better understand child care challenges, strengthen provider support, and advance collaborative solutions that help families, employers, and communities.
Housing Partnerships
Expanding housing opportunities requires coordination among communities, developers, housing organizations, infrastructure partners, and others. The EDC participates in the Region H housing partnership and works directly with municipalities throughout Huron County to understand local needs, improve housing readiness, and help move potential housing projects forward.
MI Green Thumb Brownfield Partnership
Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties collaborate through the MI Green Thumb partnership to help communities and property owners address brownfield properties and pursue redevelopment opportunities. The partnership has helped bring federal brownfield assessment resources to the region and provides a collaborative framework for tackling properties whose environmental conditions or previous uses can make redevelopment more complicated.
Community Growth Academy
Huron County's participation in Michigan's Community Growth Academy is helping turn strategic planning into implementation. Through the initiative, the EDC is working with state and community partners to build local capacity and advance projects tied to Huron County's economic development priorities.
The initiative has also brought additional capacity to the EDC through a CEDAM Fellow and resources to strengthen support for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
State & Federal Partners
The EDC maintains relationships with state and federal agencies that provide specialized expertise, programs, funding, regulatory guidance, and other resources that can help businesses, communities, and development projects move forward. Part of our role is helping local partners understand which agencies may need to be involved and making connections when appropriate.
MEDC
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Downtown development, placemaking, redevelopment, public infrastructure and community-development initiatives.
EGLE
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Brownfields, environmental remediation, water infrastructure and other environmental projects.
MDARD
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Agriculture and food businesses · Rural development · Grants and programs supporting Michigan’s agricultural economy
MSHDA
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Housing and certain community-development/revitalization initiatives.
DNR
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Parks, recreation, trails, public access and outdoor-recreation projects.
MDOT
Michigan Department of Transportation
Transportation, pedestrian, streetscape, trail and mobility-related projects.
SBDC
Michigan Small Business Development Center
Business counseling · Business planning · Market research · Financial analysis · Startup and growth assistance
SBA
U.S. Small Business Administration
Small business financing · Business counseling and education · Federal contracting · Disaster assistance · Entrepreneurship resources
EDA
U.S. Economic Development Administration
Economic development planning · Infrastructure · Regional economic development · Federal investment
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Brownfields · Environmental assessment and cleanup · Community revitalization · Environmental resources
USDA
Office of Rural Development
Rural community facilities, infrastructure and other community-development investments.
NPS
National Park Service
Historic preservation · Community planning · Outdoor recreation and conservation · Technical assistance
Economic Development is a Team Sport
Strong communities and economies are built through collaboration. Some partnerships begin with a major initiative, while others start with a conversation, a shared challenge, or an idea worth exploring.
If your business, organization, community, or agency is working on something that could strengthen Huron County, we want to hear from you. Whether you're looking for a partner, see an opportunity to work together, or simply think the EDC should be part of the conversation, reach out.