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Michigan Ag News Headlines
'Making It In Michigan' Conference Set
Michigan Ag Connection - 07/01/2016

The Michigan State University Product Center announced the ninth annual Making It In Michigan Conference and Premier Specialty Food Marketplace Trade Show to be held Nov. 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lansing Center.

"In supporting this year's theme of 'Taste the Future' we will be presenting a comprehensive series of educational sessions with forward thinking strategies for long-term success," states Brenda Reau, senior associate director, MSU Product Center. "We are also pleased to expand the trade show this year to over 200 vendors that will be sampling Michigan-made products."

This year's keynote speaker is Mike Busley, owner of Grand Traverse Pie Company. He will discuss the company's 20-year history and how his family has influenced decisions and played a role in its success and future plans.

The one-day event features morning educational sessions that will concentrate on different business stages and cover strategies for the following:

-- Starting Your Business

o Regulatory and licensing for the beginning food entrepreneur

o Farmers markets -- what do they offer to my business

o Preparing for sound record keeping

o Keys to FSMA compliance in putting together a food safety plan

o Branding your product and marketing your image

-- Growing Your Business

o Making sense of social media and other communication innovations jargon

o Becoming retailer savvy to meet customer needs

'o Financing beyond the bank loan -- alternative choices

-- The Mature Business

o Determining if imports and exports will be a good fit for your food business

o Navigating legal issues in hiring employees

The $85 per person conference registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and educational sessions, digital copies of all presentations and reference materials and admission to the Marketplace trade show.

The Marketplace trade show in the afternoon will feature over 200 new and existing businesses that will be showcasing and sampling their Michigan-made food and agricultural products to the general public and Michigan-based food buyers. The trade show is free to the general public.

Conference participants will also have time to network with the winners of this year's MSU Product Center awards and learn from their success stories. Awards will be presented for Entrepreneur of the Year, Start-up to Watch, Best Barrier Buster, Value-Added Agriculture and the Director's Award. MSU Product Center innovation counselors and staff members, Product Center clients, business consultants, regulatory officials and food and farming groups will also be available to provide in-depth information and counseling.

More information and conference registration is available at www.productcenter.msu.edu/miim. Those interested in attending can also call Greta McKinney at 517-353-7185 or send an email to mckin134@msu.edu.

Founded in 2003, the MSU Product Center helps Michigan entrepreneurs develop and commercialize high-value, consumer-responsive products and businesses in the agriculture, natural resources and bioeconomy sectors. The Center's statewide network of innovation counselors provides business counseling support to Michigan residents interested in starting or expanding a business or product line.

The Product Center's assistance in launching 481 known new businesses and business expansions has had the following estimated economic impacts:

-- Increased annual sales: $329.9 million (cumulative first year sales only)

-- Value of increased investment: $331.4 million

-- Jobs created: 1,318

-- Jobs retained: 678


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