Middle Michigan Development Corporation

What Middle Michigan Development Corporation does

Middle Michigan Development Corporation (MMDC) is a private, nonprofit economic development corporation headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, founded in 1981 and serving Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, and Osceola counties. The organization acts as the designated primary economic development driver for the four-county Middle Michigan region, delivering free business retention and expansion services, real estate development support, and grant administration to existing businesses, incoming site selectors, municipalities, and small businesses. Its core programs include business retention and expansion assistance, Match on Main grant administration (up to $25,000 per project), Technology Improvement Grants, Facade Improvement Grants, and the Trusted Connector-funded Middle Michigan Place-Based Business Initiative. The organization also operates the Michigan Centered talent retention program with Central Michigan University, Michigan Growth Office, and MakeMyMove, and runs the Shop Middle Michigan community gift card program.

MMDC's business model is grant-funded rather than fee-based: it receives funding primarily from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), state and federal agencies, and local municipalities. During 2015–2024 under former President & CEO Jim McBryde, the organization facilitated over $14 million in grant funding into the region and doubled its service area from two to four counties. Notable grants secured include the $310,848 MEDC Trusted Connector Grant (May 2025) and a $20,000 Michigan Growth Office award for the Michigan Centered program. MMDC generates no proprietary technology; it leverages third-party platforms (MakeMyMove, Yiftee/Mastercard, ZoomProspector) for program delivery.

Under its current President & CEO Kati Mora, who was promoted from Vice President in January 2025 following Jim McBryde's death, MMDC continues to expand its program portfolio into talent retention, regional childcare, and place-based small business support. The organization maintains a small staff (1–10 employees) and operates from a single office in Mt. Pleasant, with service delivery conducted primarily through in-person consultations, direct outreach, event programming, and digital channels. Its go-to-market combines sales-led retention calls, event-driven programming (Coming Home, Mid Michigan 40 Under 40, Municipal Lunch & Learn), and community-led place-based initiatives across its rural service area.

Name

Middle Michigan Development Corporation

Legal name

Middle Michigan Development Corporation

Website

https://mmdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Middle Michigan Development Corporation is a nonprofit economic development organization serving Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, and Osceola counties in Michigan, providing business retention and expansion assistance, grant administration, talent retention programs, and community development services to businesses, municipalities, and small business owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Small business grants
• Talent retention programs
• Community development
• Business attraction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Pleasant

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding & Public Financing: MMDC operates as a nonprofit economic development corporation funded primarily through grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), federal housing grant funds, and other public sources. The organization facilitates financial incentives including Business Development Grants, industrial property tax abatements, and property tax abatements for companies in its service area, directing over $14 million in grant funding into the region during the 2015–2024 period under former President & CEO Jim McBryde.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Middle Michigan Development Corporation (MMDC) is a nonprofit economic development corporation serving Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, and Osceola counties in central Michigan. It administers grant programs such as Match on Main, Technology Improvement Grants, Facade Improvement Grants, and the Trusted Connector Grant to support small businesses, while operating the Michigan Centered talent retention program and providing business retention, expansion, and attraction services for the region.

Product overview

Middle Michigan Development Corporation (MMDC) is an economic development organization offering a portfolio of services designed to retain, expand, and attract businesses in Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, and Osceola counties. The organization operates as a service-based entity rather than a technology product company, providing business development assistance including retention and expansion support, real estate development, grant administration (Match on Main, Technology Improvement Grants, Facade Improvement Grants, Trusted Connector Grant), talent retention programs (Michigan Centered), and community development initiatives. Key programs include the Shop Middle Michigan gift card program, Mid Michigan 40 Under 40 Awards recognition program, Regional Childcare Initiative, and the Coming Home career networking event. MMDC partners with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Central Michigan University, and local municipalities to deliver these services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Michigan Centered: A talent retention and attraction program launched in partnership with Central Michigan University, Michigan Growth Office, and MakeMyMove to retain CMU students after graduation in the Mt. Pleasant area.

Products and services

• Match on Main Grant Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $14 million in grant funding directed into the Middle Michigan region during 2015–2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and key.

• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2025MMDC receives the $310,848 Trusted Connector Grant from MEDC to expand the Middle Michigan Place-Based Business Initiative across Clare, Isabella, and Osceola counties. This is one of only 23 such grants awarded statewide. MMDC also collaborates with MEDC on business attraction, administers Match on Main grants, and coordinates with MEDC on statewide incentive programs.
• Michigan Growth OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MMDC partners with the Michigan Growth Office (MGO) and MakeMyMove to operate the Michigan Centered talent retention program, offering up to $2,000 in benefits to CMU graduates who stay in the Mt. Pleasant area. MGO is a state-level initiative created to support locally tailored population growth strategies. MMDC was awarded a $20,000 grant to create this local program.
• Central Michigan University (CMU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CMU is a key partner in the Michigan Centered talent retention program, working with MMDC and the Michigan Growth Office to retain graduating students in the Middle Michigan region. CMU is also featured as a university partner in the Coming Home: Middle Michigan event and provides a major employment base in the region.
• MakeMyMovecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025MakeMyMove is the technology platform powering the Michigan Centered talent retention program. The platform administers applications and delivers relocation/retention benefits (up to $2,000) to qualifying CMU graduates. MakeMyMove is part of Michigan's statewide Make MI Home program administered by the Michigan Growth Office.
• Isabella CountysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Isabella County is a partner in the Michigan Centered talent retention program, contributing to the $20,000 grant that MMDC received from the Michigan Growth Office to create the local Make MI Home program.
• Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of CommercesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Chamber partner in the Michigan Centered talent retention program, collaborating on the Make MI Home initiative to retain CMU graduates in the Middle Michigan region.
• Mt. Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors BureausupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in the Michigan Centered talent retention program, supporting efforts to showcase Mt. Pleasant as a desirable community for young professionals and graduates.
• City of Mt. PleasantsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025City partner in the Michigan Centered talent retention program, collaborating with MMDC, Isabella County, and other partners on the Make MI Home initiative.
• Charter Township of UnionsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Municipal partner in the Michigan Centered talent retention program, collaborating on the Make MI Home initiative to retain CMU graduates in the region.
• East Central Child Care CoalitionkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023MMDC leads the East Central Child Care Coalition, a group of community leaders across Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, Osceola, and Saginaw Counties working to increase the supply of high-quality childcare. Coalition includes childcare providers, community leaders, economic development professionals, and other stakeholders.
• Greater Gratiot Development, Inc.keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023MMDC and Greater Gratiot Development, Inc. jointly host the Mid Michigan 40 Under 40 Awards, recognizing exceptional young professionals across Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, and Osceola counties. The collaboration extends to the Middle Michigan | Greater Gratiot Emerging Leaders Awards and the Coming Home: Middle Michigan event.
• Mid Michigan CollegekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022MMDC partnered with Mid Michigan College to conduct job training under the Regional Talent Innovation Grant program, which provided training for 249 individuals across Michigan's Region 5 with a focus on Industry 4.0 skills.
• Delta CollegekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022MMDC partnered with Delta College alongside Mid Michigan College to conduct job training under the Regional Talent Innovation Grant program, supporting workforce development across the eight-county Region 5.
• Data-Driven DecisionssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022MMDC collaborated with consultants from Data-Driven Decisions as part of the East Central Child Care Coalition to develop a regional plan for childcare support and investment, utilizing public data analysis and stakeholder feedback.
• Northern InitiativessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Northern Initiatives serves as the business coach for the Optimize Main Street program, working with MMDC to help small businesses identify eligible uses of technology grant funds and estimate costs prior to disbursement.
• Pronar (Poland)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Bandit Industries, a key MMDC client, partnered with Poland-based Pronar to distribute trommel screens, stacking conveyors, and compost turners through Bandit's dealer network, expanding Bandit's international product portfolio.
• Arjes (Germany)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Bandit Industries, a key MMDC client, partnered with Germany-based Arjes to distribute slow speed shredders through Bandit's dealer network, broadening Bandit's international equipment offerings.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MiddleMichiganDevelopmentCo
• Facebookfacebook.com/MiddleMichiganDevelopmentCorp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Middle Michigan Development Corporation