People involved with local food production and distribution came together Wednesday at LSSU for the EUP Food Summit. They all have an interest in building a stronger local food system in the area, and these sessions create a greater sense of collaboration in regional efforts.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes located in Michigan as a result of excessive snow, freeze and extremely cold temperatures from Jan. 1 through June 3, 2015. The disaster declaration includes the following counties: Alger, Allegan, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb,… Read More »

The mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., honored longtime manager of the International Bridge by proclaiming Wednesday, October 21ST, Phillip M. Becker Day in the city. Becker, who recently announced his plans to retire in 2016, is completing 29 years of public service with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), including 15 years serving as general manager of the International Bridge Administration (IBA). Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Anthony Bosbous praised Becker for his strong community involvement, keen interpersonal skills and engaging personality, and cited him as a key proponent for the signing of the 2012 Sister Cities agreement by Sault… Read More »

Algoma District School Board, in partnership with Sault College, Tenaris Algoma Tubes, The Professional Engineers of Ontario and Staples wish to announce a new competition robotics league coming to the Sault this year. The VEX IQ competition program is a new league to the Algoma District, and offers an exciting platform for elementary school students to try their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics skills in a cooperative and competitive program. Parents of students from grades 3 to 8 are encouraged to form a team of 2 to 10 students and register for this exciting league, which competes in over 20 countries world wide.  Community groups,… Read More »

Lake Superior State University mechanical engineering projects manager Mark Rodriguez (center, reaching) checks out the control panel of a newly delivered Haas TL-1 computer numerically controlled (CNC) lathe on Oct. 6. The machine is owned by Sault Ste. Marie Advanced Resources and Technology, Inc., but will be housed in the manufacturing laboratory of LSSU’s Center for Applied Science and Technology (CASET). LSSU students and faculty – along with Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone clients, many of whom are partners with student teams on senior engineering projects – will use the TL-1 to master CNC techniques and fabricate specialized parts. A USDA… Read More »

The UPWARD Business Plan Competition is to encourage entrepreneurs to explore new ideas, and create and begin new businesses The competition is open to all residents in the Upper Peninsula, Marinette and Florence Counties. Competition winners will receive startup seed capital, as well as mentoring services and media exposure. This region wide contest is an opportunity to compete for cash and in-kind prizes, but it’s also a chance to get constructive feedback on your business… plan and to help move it from a virtual business to a reality. Why Enter? • Judges, mentors and other resources will help you gain… Read More »

ESCANABA, Mich. — The Upper Peninsula 911 Authority (UPA 911) and Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC (PFN) announce that all emergency call centers in the Upper Peninsula now support emergency text messages from wireless devices to 9—1—1. Beginning Monday September 21, 2015 individuals anywhere in the Upper Peninsula can send a text message to 9-1-1 in an emergency.   “We are pleased that we are able to launch this service in all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula at once,” said Tim McKee, Director of Chippewa County Central Dispatch. “Calling and speaking with a dispatcher is still the best way of… Read More »

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today announced that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will receive $2,124,028 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help continue the cleanup of contaminated sediment from industrial waste in the Manistique River. This support will help MDEQ develop and implement measures to remediate poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contamination in the watershed. “Our lakes and waterways are part of who we are and our way of life,” said Senator Stabenow, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “This investment will help clean up pollution and conserve beautiful natural resources… Read More »

SAULT STE. MARIE — President Barack Obama recently announced the selection of seven nominees for key administration posts. The chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors, Aaron Payment, is among them. “I am confident that these experienced and hardworking individuals will help us tackle the important challenges facing America, and I am grateful for their service,” said Obama in an Aug. 26 announcement. “I look forward to working with them.” Payment is appointed to membership on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the council consists of… Read More »

MICHIGAN – CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) announced today that it will bring high-speed Internet services to more than 25,000 rural households and businesses in Michigan by accepting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s Connect America Fund (CAF) statewide offer in Michigan. CenturyLink is accepting 33 CAF phase II statewide offers from the FCC to bring Internet service with speeds of at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload to approximately 1.2 million locations in FCC-designated, high-cost census blocks. The company is accepting a total of approximately $500 million a year for six years. High-speed Internet access brings many benefits to… Read More »