Full Steam Ahead to 2019
It’s a new year and with that comes many new opportunities for the Michigan Wine Collaborative. Our committees have been hard at work outlining their goals for 2018 as well as crafting mission statements in order to aid in the overall mission of the collaborative- To enhance the sustainability and profitability of the Michigan wine industry by supporting wineries, growers and other businesses and individuals connected to the industry – today and for future generations.
Missions and goals have been uploaded to our website and can be found at: michiganwinecollaborative.com/2018-mwc-committee-mission-statements-goals/
And as always, we encourage our members to participate on committees. MWC committees include Membership, Sustainability, Communication, Grants & Legislation, Finance, and Research & Education. Do you have experience in any of these areas or do you want to contribute time in helping us reach our goals? Reach out to us by clicking here and start collaborating today!
The Michigan Wine Industry Expanding Economic Impact
The 2017 Economic Impact Report is out and it is promising! In areas ranging from employment, tax revenue, and profits the industry excelled. The total economic impact of our wine industry totaled just over $5.4 billion. With about 3,050 acres dedicated to wine grapes the value of grapes totaled $9.5 million and contributed $7.8 million to the state economy. The economic contribution of wineries and cideries amounted to $479.1 million. Expansion of the Michigan wine industry is looking good for 2018 as well. An impressive 82% of producers are projecting to increase production with 35% of respondents looking to increase vineyard acreage. To view the full report visit:
www.michiganwines.com/docs/Industry/michigan_economic_impact_report_10-25-2017_final.pdf
Craft Beverage Industry Training Grants
According to an official press release, funding has become available to aid employees in the craft beverage industry in Northwest Lower Michigan. The funding is being provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Expansion Grants and is available through Northwest Michigan Works! This funding is allocated to support apprenticeships for employers in not only the craft beverage industry but also related agricultural and other businesses and services. The grants are available to employers in Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmett, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford Counties.
The program provides dollars that may be used towards training and related instruction costs of a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program. These apprenticeship programs provide apprentices with work-based learning and technical education focused on craft beverage and related occupations. After completion of the apprenticeship program, apprentices will receive a national credential demonstrating proficiency in the job competencies within those industries.
Employers interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to contact Evelyn Szpliet at [email protected] or 231.723.2535.
Individuals interested in additional information on applying to participate as an apprentice in this program are encouraged to contact their nearest Northwest Michigan Works! Center or call 1-800-442-1074.
For the full press release and to learn more visit:
http://www.networksnorthwest.org/main-site/news/news-article.html/707/
Don’t forget to register for the 2018 Michigan Grape & Wine Conference. This year the conference will be in Kalamazoo from February 28-March 2. Not only will this conference be comprised of excellent sessions to choose from, our annual meeting will take place following the final session on Thursday 3/1 from 4:30-5:30. MWC members save $20 off of registration with promo code. Click Here to request the promo code.
The 2018 Cold Climate Conference is coming up soon! This year’s conference will be March 15-17th at the Bloomington Doubletree Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. This conference is dedicated to cold climate grape growers and wine makers. There will be over 30 educational and unique sessions, keynote speakers, and a Winter Wine Fest following the conference. Michigan Wine Collaborative is a sponsor of this event and would love for our members to attend. Members of MWC receive $50 off of individual registration and groups of 4 or more receive 10% each. Click Here to request the promo code.
Additional News:
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Do you have an event, news, or accolade you would like published through MWC? E-mail Emily at [email protected] to submit material.
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Are you involved in any of MWC’s valuable and dynamic committees? We are looking for motivated and industrious members to help our committees thrive. To request more information on available committee seats click here.
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The 2018 Michigan Grape & Wine Conference is in Kalamazoo, MI from Feb. 28- March 2. MWC members receive $20 off of their registration fees with an exclusive promo code that has been sent out to members. Contact us if you need that code re-sent to you. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
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The annual Michigan Wine Collaborative meeting will take place at the Michigan Grape & Wine Conference on Thursday March 1st from 4:30-5:30. Join us for an update on our activities from 2017 and goals for 2018.
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MWC cannot thank our members enough for supporting us and collaborating with us on the future of the Michigan wine industry. We need you to help us spread the word about MWC membership. Every member who cultivates a fruitful referral will receive a small thank you from MWC.
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Communications committee meeting is scheduled for Monday February 5th at 10 am. Any inquiries may be directed to committee chair Brian Lesperance.
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Sustainability committee meeting is scheduled forThursday February 28th at noon. This meeting will be held at the 2018 Michigan Grape & Wine Conference in Kalamazoo, MI. Any inquiries may be directed to committee chair Matt Moersch.
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Reminder that board meetings take place monthly. All members (voting and non-voting) are welcomed to attend. In addition, time is allotted for public comments or questions. The next board meeting is scheduled forFebruary 6th at 10 am. Board meetings will take place the first Tuesday of the month unless otherwise noted. For call-in information check Basecamp or contact us here.
For more news and information, please visit us at www.michiganwinecollaborative.com. As always, please like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram @michiganwinecollaborative, and on Twitter @MIWineCollab. We look forward to seeing you online!
Cheers,
David Miller, President