Mt. Clemens, MI - The National Association of Counties (NACo) has announced Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) as a recipient of three Achievement Awards for 2023.
The annual awards program, now in its 53rd year, recognizes innovative and effective county government initiatives that strengthen services for residents. Awards are given in 18 different categories, including children and youth, criminal justice, county administration, information technology, health and civic engagement.
"These awards highlight our commitment to strengthening services for our residents and improving the overall quality of life in our community," said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. "I am particularly proud of our Planning and Economic Development Department for receiving this recognition as it is a testament to their hard work and dedication to fostering economic growth and sustainable development in our County. We will continue to strive for excellence and implement creative solutions that make a positive impact on our residents' lives."
All three MCPED awards were in the Community and Economic Development category. They include:
- The Macomb Next program, which creates awareness of Industry 4.0 technology. With the help of its partners, MCPED assesses local companies to determine their I4.0 readiness.Through grant assistance, the department has held five workshops, with two more set for 2023, covering a range of topics related to the nine pillars: cybersecurity, augmented and virtual reality, big data and analytics, advanced robotics and automation, additive manufacturing, system integration, advanced simulation, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. State funding also provides grant monies for businesses to purchase I4.0 technology.
- Best Mac in the Mac, a food contest which asks restaurant goers to choose the best macaroni and cheese dish in Macomb County. It was created in 2021 to draw attention to local restaurants, many of which were still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Today the contest encourages local restaurants to show off their cooking skills and the public gets to vote in a series of brackets that determine who has the best noodle dish in the region.
- The Shop Local Macomb campaign, an initiative that encourages supporting local small businesses, specifically by shopping at these establishments during the holiday shopping season. Macomb County partners with several local entities, including First State Bank and chambers of commerce, to organize the effort. Participants then have the opportunity to shop at one of the County’s more than 1,600 independently owned and operated retailers and win cash prizes.
Started in 1970, NACo’s annual Achievement Awards program is designed to recognize county government innovations. Each nominee is judged on its own merits and not against other applications received.
About Macomb County Planning and Economic Development
The Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development supports an environment where businesses prosper and people thrive. Its activities and programs are focused on stimulating the local economy through business retention, expansion and attraction while improving the overall quality of life for residents. The department specializes in providing services to businesses at all stages of development with a concentration on the high-growth industries of aerospace, alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, defense and homeland security. For more information, call 586-469-5285 or visit: https://ped.macombgov.org/Ped-Home.