Appropriations Requests for

• Cosponsoring legislators' names (if applicable):
• Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:
  202 E Grandview Parkway, Traverse City, MI 49684 Northern Prosperity Region (Region 2)
• The recipient's employer identification number:
  472891252
• Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:
  $65,000.00
• What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?
  The Regional Capacity Building for Talent Attraction and Retention funding will allow Traverse Connect to address gaps in higher education graduate retention and career attraction due to the absence of a four-year educational institution in the region. This will be done by developing and implementing a coordinated regional strategy to expand experiential learning opportunities—including internships, apprenticeships, and capstone projects—and strengthen the talent pipeline. Traverse Connect via the Michigan’s Creative Coast program, in collaboration with NLEA and Networks Northwest, will lead this strategy with support from education and business community partners. The program will launch and sustain new infrastructure, employer engagement, and student-facing initiatives to ensure that experiential learning becomes a cornerstone of Northwest Michigan’s workforce development and talent attraction ecosystem.
• Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?
• If so, how?
• Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:
  January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027
• Has the nonprofit corporation continuously operated in this state for the preceding 36 months?
  Yes
• Has the nonprofit corporation had a physical office in this state for not less than the preceding 12 consecutive months?
  Yes
• Does the nonprofit corporation have a board of directors?
  Yes
• List all of the officers and active members on the board of directors:
  Rachel Johnson, Past Chair Bill Myers, Chair Kevin Klein, Treasurer and Vice Chair Dan Buron, Secretary Gabe Schneider, Government Relations Chair Norm Plumstead, Finance Committee Chair Nate Alger Suzanne Allen Michael Brown Warren Call Cortney Danbrook Trey Devy Doug DeYoung Brandie Ekren Laura Galbraith Tim Healy Don Howe Joe Hurshe Nick Jacqmain Russ Knopp Benjamin Marentette John Melcher Fernando Mezza Nick Nissley Kacie SanMiguel Jen Seman Jessica Sullican Whitney Waara

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator