The Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) was formed in 2001 to serve the economic well being of Shiawassee County.

Mission Statement

To improve Shiawassee County's economy by creating the environment, infrastructure and partnerships through which annual net new jobs, average wage, and new investment targets are met or exceeded.

History

The Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) was created by the Board of Directors of the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce as the fifth of five departments of the Chamber in 2001. The intention of the Board of Directors was to create a fully-funded, full time economic development effort for Shiawassee County and to collaborate with interested public and private organizations to reverse a 30 year decline.

Throughout 2002 the Chamber was successful in acquiring planning grants from the State of Michigan to assist in a four-phase roll out plan of the new SEDP which included an economic assessment, target industry studies, goal setting studies and the first business plan. In November 2002, the Chamber Board approved the Chamber four year business plan which included the new economic development department. The plan described the launch, funding and operation of the SEDP. Also in November 2002 an outside fund development firm was hired to begin the process to raise $1.25 million from the public and private sectors to fund the plan at the rate of $250,000 per year for five years. In October of 2003, the SEDP announced it had met that goal and hired its first Director.

In January of 2009, the SEDP became an independent organization governed by a board of directors.