CEO Update
To our Investors and Partners, The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges and uncertainty to our West Michigan business community. The Right Place is open for business, but we are working remotely. As you navigate the new realities of your business, the team at The Right Place remains your trusted partner and will provide the necessary resources to assist you through the coming months. Our organization was built to guideWest Michigan businesses through difficult times. We have refocused our economic development efforts to support you through this cri- sis, and these efforts are detailed below. Here are a few highlights from the numerous connections our team has made these past weeks: • We identified a local manufacturer toproduceCOVID-19 test kits. Read the full storyhere. • We connected Kent County first responderswithover 4,500 critically needed safety glasses. • We worked with Total Plastics, Primera Plastics, and Keystone Solutions to produce face-shields for the local health systems. On top of these crucial healthcare connections, we are also continuing our critical business retention work, with the goal of maintaining quality, high-paying jobs in our • Business Connections: We’remaking connections between our healthcare systems and local manufacturers for critical supply chain needs. If your company is interested in supplying medical supplies, contact Eric Icard at: icarde@rightplace.org or (616) 350-3982 . • Health/Business Collaborations: We are co-facilitating, along with NormBeauchamp and Michigan State University, a coalition of healthcare and business leaders to provide products, services, and support our healthcare system needs during this rapidly unfolding crisis. WEST MICHIGAN BUSINESS SUPPORT • Local Business Focus: Our staff have all been redirected to focus exclusively on supporting and retaining West Michigan businesses. A full list of our team, with their contact information, can be found here. • COVID-19 News Updates: As the stream of resources, information, and news flow from federal, state, and local channels, we have created a dedicated business resource stream on our website. • Small Business Relief Grants: We were awarded $1,000,000 to provide grants up to $10,000 to support qualifying small, main street businesses in the region that have realized a significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. We have received over 2,100 applications, which unfortunately is significantly more than this funding can support. community. Here are the immediate actions we have taken: SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE IN WEST MICHIGAN • Federal, State, and Local Coordination: Our team is coordinating with resources at all levels of government to review policies, executive orders, and other legislative actions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. If you have specific questions, please reach out to Brad Comment at: commentb@rightplace.org or (616) 240-7211 .
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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