EMP’s Ralph Bedogne speaks to Bay Area Economic Club

ESCANABA -- Understanding your governmental agencies and what resources are available could be what small business owners need to help boost business and create jobs.  That's what officials from Engineered Machined Products, or EMP, in Escanaba believe.

Ralph Bedogne, EMP'S Vice President of Finance and Governmental Affairs, says money is out there to help boost business...you just have to know where to look.  

Bedogne says grants like the Small Business Innovation Research Grant through government agencies can really help.  Grants like that have helped EMP boost business in their advanced products division, and they feel others can see the same success.

"You can get anywhere between 75 to 100,000 dollars worth of money to start this research and development," explained Bedogne.  "If it's accepted and it looks like it can be going into the next stage, you can apply to a second phase, which is anywhere between 700,000 to a million dollars."

Bedogne was the guest speaker Monday night for the Bay Area Economic Club.  The Club is made up of 50 members from businesses across the Central U.P. and they host four events each year.

"The Economic Club is here for businesses to meet, talk together, exchange ideas," said Club President, Laura Coleman.  "We bring in hometown achievers; we bring in other really great speakers to let us know what's going on in the economy nationally, regionally and locally."

Bedogne feels the information presented Monday night could help point small business owners in the right direction.

"Today, it's job retention," Bedogne said.  "That's the key term, and I think using the government and understanding where they're putting their money and following those dollars can help some of our smaller companies."

The Club's next event will be a health care panel discussion on March 1, 2010.  For more information on the Bay Area Economic Club click here.