2015 ANNUAL REPORT

YOU’VE GOT TO SEE SHIAWASSEE

Dear Investors & Partners:On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, I am pleased to present you with our Annual Report. 2015 was another excellent year for Shiawassee County’s economy, which has been steadily improving over the last six years. According to the State of Michigan’s Office of Labor Market Information, our unemployment rate currently stands at just 4.3%, with over 32,000 residents working. In January 2010, we had 15.5% unemployment and just 29,000 residents were employed. That is an 11%+ drop in unemployment and 3,000 net new jobs!

This economic rebound can also be seen in our organization’s activity this past year, with lots of positive news to report including:• 109 business attraction leads

• 99 projects with existing businesses

• 23 announced projects (14 expansions and nine new business starts) totaling approximately 500 new jobs and $25 million of capital investment

We were able to achieve these results by focusing our efforts on four key initiatives, which we will continue to pursue in 2016:

• Providing our local companies with valued services to help them continue to grow and prosper in the county

• Strengthening regional, state, national and international partnerships that help to position Shiawassee County as a global destination for investment.

• Creating land & building development opportunities throughout the county to provide more site location options for current and prospective businesses

• Building the talent pipeline that ensures that our firms have the workforce they need both now and in the future

As always, these activities would not be possible without your generous support, and we thank you. We hope you enjoy the report, and look to forward to continued partnership in 2016!

Welcome

Justin Horvath, President/CEO

BRENT JONESVice President

JUSTIN HORVATH

President/CEO

STAFF MEMBERS

AMY RODDYCity of Durand

Chair

DANNY MILLEROwosso

Charter TownshipVice Chair

BRUCE COOK Cook Family FoundationTreasurer

TOM CAMPBELL

The Argus Press

PAUL COOKWolverine

Sign Works

DON CRAWFORD

City of Owosso

JOHN HORVATHShiawassee County

Government

JEFF DEASONShiawassee

Regional Chamber of Commerce

AARON MAIKEBaker College of

Owosso

BRAD KIRKLANDFifth Third

Bank

DON LEVIChemical

Bank

2015 Board of Directors

For more information contact:

Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership

215 North Water Street Owosso, MI 48867

989.725.9241 www.sedpweb.org

BRIAN LONG Memorial

Healthcare

JOE SAWYERCity of Corunna

DAVID SCHULTE Shiawassee

Regional Education

Service District

CHRIS THELEN

ConsumersEnergy

SID GRINNELLPerry Township

Secretary

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Serving Existing Businesses

2nd Chance Wood • Vernon Township

Accelectronics • Owosso Charter Township/Woodhull Township

Allied Motion, Motor Products • Owosso Charter Township

American Pellet Company • Corunna

American Recycling Center • Owosso Charter Township

Applebee Oil & Propane • Owosso

Baker College of Owosso • Owosso

Bonner Trucking • Bennington Township

Bourne Industries • Corunna

Care & Assist • Corunna

Chel-Mer Inspection & Freight Services • Owosso

Clark Engineering • Owosso

Codejock Software • Caledonia Charter Township

Covenant Eyes • Owosso

Crest Marine • Owosso Charter Township

Davis Cartage • Corunna

DayStarr Communications • Owosso

Elsesser’s Auto Repair & Fabricating • Perry Township

Empire Machine & Conveyor • Durand

Fertilizer Dealer Supply • Perry Township

Forterra Brick • Caledonia Charter Township

Great Lakes Central Railroad • Owosso

Great Lakes Fabrication & Machining • Vernon Township

Great Lakes Fusion • Vernon Township

Great Lakes Ready Mix • Vernon Township

i60media • Durand

Impress Machine & Technologies • Owosso

Indian Trails • Owosso

Industrial Propane Service • Byron

JBS United • Corunna

Josh’s Frogs • Owosso

L-5 Transportation •Caledonia Charter Township

Machine Tool & Gear • Corunna/Owosso

Meal & More • Morrice

Meyer Electric • Owosso

Michigan Iron & Equipment • Perry Township

Michigan Tank & Equipment • Owosso Charter Township

Midwest Bus • Owosso

Muzzy Zombieland • Venice Township

Oster Superior Threading • Owosso Charter Township

Owosso Composite • Owosso

Owosso Graphic Arts • Owosso Charter Township

Owosso Poker Room • Caledonia Charter Township

Polymer Products Group • Rush Township

RadParts • Owosso Charter Township/Woodhull Township

RF Engine • Antrim Township

Right At Home • Owosso

Rugged Liner • Caledonia Charter Township/Owosso

RWI Manufacturing • Owosso

S Group Automotive • Owosso Charter Township

Senk Tooling • New Haven Township

Sheridan Realty & Auction • Owosso

SLH Metals • Corunna

Sonoco • Owosso

Steiner Tractor Parts • Venice Township

Targetline • Owosso

Terex Simplicity • Durand

TiAL Products • Owosso

Toledo Commutator • Owosso

Transfleet • Perry Township

Trebor Industries • Owosso

Tri-Mer Corporation • Owosso

Trust Thermal • Owosso

United Suppliers • Perry Township

Universal Handling Equipment • Owosso

Viron International • Caledonia Charter Township

Wakeland Oil Company • Owosso

Walker EDM • Owosso

Wausaukee Composites • Owosso Charter Township

Webcor Packaging • Durand/Owosso

Welcome Home Assisted Living • Caledonia Charter Township

Wheeler Trucking • Hazelton Township

Williamston Products • Owosso Charter Township

Woodard • Owosso

70% of all jobs created in a community come from existing companies, so it is critically important to support their growth by providing customized services that meet their business needs. In 2015, the SEDP worked on 99 specific opportunities with the local firms listed below. (Note: some firms had multiple projects)

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Wheeler Trucking Awarded 2015 Project of the Year

Wheeler Trucking, a truck hauler located in Hazelton Township (New Lothrop) is the recipient of the 2015 Project of the Year award, sponsored by Consumers Energy.

The company, which currently has 136 employees, has plans to grow to 350 people, and is working on building a new 30,000 square foot corporate headquarters in the township to accommodate their expansion.

“We are excited to be investing and growing quality jobs right here in Hazelton Township (New Lothrop) and Shiawassee County, with this headquarters providing a home for our hard-working employees and it will also help keep our trucks running in top condition,” said company owner Rex Wheeler.

The business worked closely with State Senator Rick Jones and State Representative Ben Glardon on passing key truck length legislation which allowed the facility project to move forward.

“Wheeler Trucking is one of our fastest growing, most successful companies in Shiawassee County, and Rex and his team are great people to work with,” said Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership President/CEO Justin Horvath. “We are also very appreciative of Senator Jones, Representative Glardon and everyone involved in getting statewide support for modifying a law that helps encourage the growth of not only Wheeler, but also other truck haulers in Michigan,” Horvath added.

Project of the Year

Pausing for a photo after the Project of the Year announcement were (l. to r.) Brian Drexler, Vice President of Operations, Doug Kelley, Chief Financial Officer, Ben Frederick, Owosso Mayor, John Horvath, County Commissioner and SEDP board member, Rex Wheeler, President & CEO, Gary Holzhausen, County Commissioner representing Hazelton Township, Ben Glardon, State Representative, Margeaux Stephens, Consumers Energy Business Account Manager, Chris Thelen, Consumers Energy Area Manager and SEDP board member, and Justin Horvath, SEDP President & CEO.

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Covenant Eyes Makes Room For New Employees Work Begins at New Location and on Company’s Main Campus

After hiring 29 employees in 2015 and seeking to fill 15 new positions, Covenant Eyes Internet Accountability and Filtering is renovating the former Owosso Schools Administration Building and renovating space for more offices at its headquarters on West King Street.

The Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership hosted a ground-breaking ceremony at the newly purchased building at 1405 W. North St. in October.Covenant Eyes expects to spend $225,000 to renovate the building to house a second customer service call center. Construction is expected to be complete early in the first quarter, and the building will provide office space for 38 employees in 2016.

The new purchase also frees up space at Covenant Eyes headquarters at 1525 W. King St. to construct new offices for recently hired employees as well as unfilled positions.Covenant Eyes officially purchased the vacant building from the Owosso Public Schools, after the Owosso Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved rezoning the property for office use.

Source: Covenant Eyes

Covenant Eyes’ leadership and community partners break ground on the firm’s new call center facility.

Great Lakes Ready Mix, Great Lakes Fabrication & Machining Start Operations in Vernon TownshipTwo new businesses are underway in Vernon Township, thanks to the efforts of a local entrepreneur. Great Lakes Ready Mix is a producer of ready mix concrete, and is located at 7505 E M-71, utilizing the batch plant space that formerly housed concrete pipe manufacturer PreMarc Corporation.

Great Lakes Fabrication & Machining has opened in the former Co-Op Machine & Tool facility at 7665 E M-71, and is specializing in precision machining and fabrication of metals, plastics, and other materials for custom pieces to large scale production.

Both firms were started by Bryan Marks, who already operates multiple businesses in the area, including Great Lakes Fusion (a construction company focused on residential, commercial, industrial, landfill and pipeline projects throughout the US and Canada) and Exotic Concrete Creations, a decorative concrete contractor.

Together, these new projects are generating approximately $750,000 in capital investment and seven new jobs.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Great Lakes Ready Mix is now operating in Vernon Township.

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I’m All Ears Popcorn Builds New Production Facility in Shiawassee County

An exciting new agribusiness is starting in Shiawassee County, thanks to a unique collaboration between two local families – one that farms and one that owns a chain of movie theaters.

Hinterman Farms-Mark and Shannon Hinterman of Shiawassee Township, together with a new Owosso-based company called Xtreme Theater Solutions-Jeff and Joe Geiger, are beginning a new entrepreneurial venture called I’m All Ears Popcorn, a popcorn production company.The entire operation will be housed at the Hinterman property on Garrison Road in Shiawassee Township, where the popcorn seed is already growing, and will be harvested, processed, packaged, and distributed from a newly constructed facility.

When in operation, locally grown popcorn will be distributed throughout the country. The initial focus will be supplying movie theaters with premium looking and especially tasty popcorn that will exceed expectations.

I’m All Ears Popcorn representatives and project partners ceremonially break ground on the firm’s new production facility.

Agribusiness JBS United Locates in Corunna, Receives Certificate of Recognition from the I-69 International Trade CorridorJBS United, a global leader in animal health and nutrition providing research-based products worldwide to owners and producers of various animal species, is growing its Michigan distribution operations in Corunna.

The company, which is headquartered in Sheridan, Indiana, leased approximately 13,000 square feet of space in the former Strawsine building, located at 503 South Shiawassee Street. The facility will be utilized to warehouse and ship animal (predominantly cattle & swine) feed to customers throughout the state. The deal was brokered by Woodworth Commercial of Owosso.

The I-69 International Trade Corridor honored JBS United with a Certificate of Recognition, which is focused on supporting multi-modal businesses that are growing in the region. As part of the company’s global supply chain, they move products via truck, rail and ship.

Jim Lamb from JBS United and Brent Jones of the SEDP pause for a photo after the company received a Certificate of Recognition from the I-69 International Trade Corridor.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Webcor Packaging Opens New Warehousing Facility in Durand

Webcor Packaging, a manufacturer of corrugated boxes, constructed a new 30,000 square foot warehouse expansion at its production facility in Durand.

The company invested approximately $1.2 million dollars in the building, which is needed to accommodate significant growth across a number of sectors and customers (they are currently one of the largest suppliers of United States Postal Service Priority Mail products). The business also has additional manufacturing and warehousing facilitiesin Burton, Flint and Owosso.

Webcor Packaging officials and community leaders do a ceremonial ground-breaking for the company’s new 30,000 square foot building.

SAKOR Technologies Relocates to Owosso Charter TownshipSAKOR Technologies, a maker of high-performance dynamometer systems, has moved from its previous facility in Okemos, Michigan, to a much larger facility in Owosso Charter Township. The company has grown rapidly in the past several years, and the new building better supports SAKOR’s current and future growth.The new facility, which will house the company’s administrative, engineering, and manufacturing operations together, formerly housed Baker College’s Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan. As such, the building’s design and facilities are ideal for SAKOR’s needs: it currently measures 20,000 square feet, has ample high-voltage electrical power, and is laid out in a way that is exceptionally convenient for SAKOR’s manufacturing needs.

The new facility’s production bays are large enough to accommodate manufacturing more products at one time and manufacturing much larger, more sophisticated projects on-site than were previously possible. These building features will play a part in sustaining the company’s accelerating growth curve into the future.

While SAKOR will likely undertake renovations to the new building in the near future, the company was able to move into the new space quickly, thereby allowing them to keep up with a busy production schedule and meet all promised delivery dates.

Source: SAKOR Technologies

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS KEY INITIATIVES

Additional highlights include:

• Offered a series of CEO Roundtables (presented by MMI Financial Group of Owosso) which offered networking and professional guidance on relevant business topics like leadership development

• Developed a manufacturing coalition in conjunction with I-69 Thumb Region partners, which is focused on bringing local companies together for collaboration (e.g. building supply chains, talent development)

• Sponsored a number of informational seminars on key issues and opportunities, including Michigan Personal Property Tax reform, IRS repair regulation changes, government contracting assistance, and crowdfunding

• Hosted a Logistics & Supply Chain Forum, bringing a wide variety of state resources to help with companies’ logistics and supply chain management activities

Logistics & Supply Chain Forum - A Logistics & Supply Chain Forum was held at the Baker College Welcome Center in Owosso, with speakers from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Office of the Great Lakes.

Owosso’s Tri-Mer Corporation (an air pollution control systems manufacturer) won the Shiawassee County Exporter of the Year award at the I-69 Thumb Region Regional Summit in September. Company President John Pardell paused for a photo afterward with (l. to r.)Matthew Quigley of the US Department of Commerce, Tino Breithaupt of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Justin Horvath of the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership.

Strengthening Partnerships for Business DevelopmentThe SEDP worked hard in 2015 to further develop

relationships with various regional, state, national

and international partners that increases our

available resources and helps to put us on the map

for business opportunities.

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KEY INITIATIVES

Participated in multiple activities with the Detroit Regional Chamber and Michigan Economic Development

Corporation business attraction teams

Attended Pure Michigan market blitz events in Chicago & New York; Consultant Connect events in Chicago & Greenville, South Carolina, IEDC Economic Future Forum in Madison, Wisconsin, and Next conference in Dallas

A delegation from the Chicago International Trade Commissioners Association (CITCA) visited the I-69 Thumb Region in January to learn more about the region and identify opportunities for collaboration.

SEDP President & CEO Justin Horvath participated in a Pure Michigan market blitz trip to New York City (led by Governor Rick Snyder), promoting Michigan as a business destination to site selectors.

Strengthening Partnerships for Business Development (cont.)

Multiple activities with the I-69 International Trade Corridor & I-69 Thumb Region, including:

• Development of the Accelerate plan (opening doors to state and federal funding programs)

• Sponsoring a regional collaboration summit (including moderating a real estate development panel)

• Hosting a delegation from Kentucky working on connecting I-69 from Michigan to Texas

• Hosting another delegation from the Chicago International Trade Commissioners Association

• Attending the Mid-American Economic Development Council winter conference in Chicago and meeting with a number of site selectors

• Hosting an agribusiness forum

• Sponsoring an exhibit at the Supply Chain Innovation Summit in Dearborn

• Hosting a regional financing forum

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KEY INITIATIVES KEY INITIATIVES

Creating Real Estate Development OpportunitiesWith many vacant buildings filled over the past few years, there is little inventory available to locate new companies in the county, or help existing ones add additional capacity. The SEDP worked on a variety of initiatives in 2015 to tackle thischallenge:

• Completed work on an industrial site preparedness strategy with Olsson Associates out of Omaha, Nebraska, focused on identifying the top land sites (and associated strengths and weaknesses) for development in the county, and started more in-depth activity on locations in Corunna and Owosso, including master planning, cost estimating, and target industry identification

• Working with Indiana-based High Road Consulting on a regional assessment of the potential of developing multimodal (e.g. rail & truck) facilities, with the first report expected in 1st quarter 2016

• Established Owosso Charter Township Industrial Park West, a collaboration with the Owosso Charter Township board to develop approximately 80 acres on Delaney Rd into a new park

• Provided information on available local, state and federal resources to support development in our smaller communities, including informational sessions in Byron, Morrice and Lennon, development of a Commercial Rehabilitation District in Laingsburg, and hosting a Redevelopment Ready Communities seminar

• Promoted available sites for development through a variety of means, including a newly redesigned SEDP website, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation real estate prospectus, and exhibiting at the University of Michigan/Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum in Detroit

• Facilitated progress on multiple downtown redevelopment projects, including the Owosso Armory, Lincoln House in Owosso, and Cavalier Greene in Corunna (all expected to start construction in 2016)

• Worked collaboratively with City of Perry, Perry Township & I-69 International Trade Corridor officials on developing a water infrastructure solution to support the Transfleet & Elsesser Auto Repair & Fabricating building projects in Perry Township

Kent Waide & Lee Lingo (representing an I-69 collaboration group in Kentucky), Jann Knapp of Transfleet, and Justin Horvath of the SEDP pause for a photo after touring Transfleet’s new logistics facility under construction in Perry Township. The I-69 International Trade Corridor is utilizing a Local Development Finance Authority program to support getting a new water line to the site.

Industrial Park West – A billboard promoting the availability of land for development at this Delaney Road site.

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KEY INITIATIVES

Building the Talent PipelineAs the economy continues to rebound, it is critical to ensure that we can offer a skilled workforce that meets companies’ hiring needs. The SEDP spent extensive time in 2015 working with educational and training partners to address this issue, with our primary role serving as a connection point between business and academia.

Below is a list of the various activities:

• Developed stronger relationships with the county’s eight school

districts and the Shiawassee Regional Education

Service District

• Organized a series of talent tours for local high school students

to visit companies and learn about their operations

and potential career opportunities

• Creating a series of videos of these visits to help with promotion

to kids that were not able to attend

• Organized and promoted Career & Technical Education

informational events with Corunna and Owosso High

Schools

• Worked closely with the Corunna High School metal shop

instructor on development of a mechatronics program

• Collaborated with local First Robotics teams, including a

customized talent tour, requesting for donations from local

manufacturers, and hosting a promotional event at Corunna

High School

• Authored a letter to the editor regarding the importance of

schools’ in developing talent

• Worked with several manufacturers in developing an Employee

Resource Network to help with workers’ social service needs

• Offered an informational session on the Michigan Skilled Trades

Training Fund and promoted various other training

programs to companies

• Co-sponsored a countywide job fair (with over 50 employers

and over 300 job seekers in attendance) and an

informational exhibit at the Home, Garden & Business Expo,

and marketed available job opportunities through a variety of

other methods, including social media

A Corunna First Robotics team member demonstrates their robot during a Manufacturers Mixer at the high school.

Chris Bagwell of Great Lakes Central Railroad provides an informational tour of the company’s operations for a large group of local high school students.

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INVESTORSThe Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership would like to thank the following investors for their financial support of the organization in 2015.

Ace Hardware

Advanced Drainage Systems

AKT Peerless Environmental Services

Alliance HNI

Allied Motion, Motor Products

American Recycling Center

Andrews Hooper Pavlik

Antrim Township

Baker College of Owosso

Bank of America

Bennington Township

Bourne Industries

Brown & Associates

Byron Area Schools

C2AE

Caledonia Charter Township

CECO Environmental

Chel-Mer Inspection & Freight Services

Chemical Bank

City of Corunna

City of Durand

City of Laingsburg

City of Owosso

City of Perry

Clark Engineering

CLH Insurance

Consumers Energy

Cook Family Foundation

Cooper Commercial

Covenant Eyes

Creekwood Architecture

Crest Marine

DayStarr Communications

Durand Area Chamber of Commerce

Durand Area Schools

Edward Jones - Dave Minarik

Edward Jones - Peter Keay

Edwards Sign & Screen Printing

Fairfield Township

Fertilizer Dealer Supply

Fifth Third Bank

Frontier Communications

Gilbert’s Hardware & Appliance

Graff Chevrolet Durand

Great Lakes Central Railroad

Great Lakes Fusion

Greenstone Farm Credit Services

Hankerd Sportswear

Healthfirst Pharmacy

Hemenway Business Service

Hi-Temp Heating & Cooling

i60media

Independent Newspaper Group

Indian Trails

ITC

J.E. Shireling

Jacobs Insurance Agency

Laingsburg Business & Community Association

Lennon Telephone Company

Lyman & Sheets Insurance Agency

Lynnman Construction

Main Beverage

Maurer Heating & Cooling

Memorial Healthcare

Metro Mortgage of Owosso

Michigan Laborers Training Institute

Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center

Middlebury Township

Midwest Bus Corporation

MMI Financial Group

Morgan Construction Company

MRM Industries

Nelson House Funeral Home

New Lothrop Area Public Schools

Oakes-Fisher-Civille Insurance

Olive Branch Assisted Living

Oster Superior Threading

Owosso Charter Township

Owosso Graphic Arts

Owosso Public Schools

Perry Township

Perry Township DDA

Plante Moran

Precision Electric Motor Sales

Rathbun Public Relations

RF Engine

Richard Selleck & Sons

Rowe

Rugged Liner

Rush Township

RWI Manufacturing

S Group Automotive

SageLink Credit Union

Shaw’s Pharmacy

Shiawassee Association of Realtors

Shiawassee County Government

Shiawassee Home Builders Association

Shiawassee Regional Education Service District

Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce

Shiawassee Township

Signature Ford

Sobak’s Home Medical Equipment

Spicer Group

Stechschulte Gas & Oil

Stevens Worldwide Van Lines

Terex Simplicity

The Argus Press

Thomas S. Bridges, Attorney

TiAL Products

Tri-Mer Corporation

Triterra

Trust Thermal

Universal Handling Equipment

Vernon Township

Village of Lennon

Village of Morrice

Viron International

VMD & Associates

Wade Trim

Wakeland Oil Company

Warner, Norcross & Judd

Wells Fargo Advisors

Williamston Products

Wirt-Rivette Group

Wolverine Sign Works

Woodard

Woodworth Commercial

Young Chevrolet Cadillac