Congratulations Island Airways

[BobTidmore]

From the Charlevoix Courier

Island Airways Angela LeFevre-Welke announced Tuesday that the local air transport company is one of 54 small and midsize companies from around Michigan that have been selected to receive business development support through the Pure Michigan Business Connect Economic Gardening Pilot Program being offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

"We are very pleased to be selected to take part in the Economic Gardening Pilot Program and look forward to getting support that will help us identify and pursue opportunities for growth," LeFevre-Welke said. "We have a great commitment to our community and to Michigan, and see this opportunity as a benefit not only to our company, but to Michigan's economy as well."

The program will be administered through the Cassopolis-based Edward Lowe Foundation and will include four areas of support: strategy and management; market research/competitive intelligence; internet and social media strategy; and geographical information systems to help identify potential customers in other states.

"The goal of this program is to help these second-stage companies grow and in turn, generate new private investment and create new jobs for Michigan," ogranization CEO and president Michael A. Finney said. "The program is part of our toolkit for economic gardening that's built on Michigan's broad asset base of strong corporate enterprises, innovative entrepreneurs and rich technology resources."

McPhillips Flying Service, Inc. (doing business as Island Airways) was established in 1945. In the following 66 years, the business has changed tremendously but the core mission remains the same, "Provide air transportation of passengers and freight to the residents and visitors of Beaver Island, Michigan," LeFevre-Welke said. The company is based on and operates from Welke Airport on Beaver Island. Island Airways provides daily air service between Beaver Island and Charlevoix. In addition to daily passenger/freight service, Island Airways provides charter services all over the Midwest and FAA certified aviation repair services.

The 54 companies were selected by an independent review board from a pool of 108 nominees that were submitted by local economic development representatives from throughout Michigan. The companies were chosen based on the type and size of the markets they serve, their growth potential, and their likelihood of benefitting from the service.

Bob Tidmore
Beaver Island, MI

[Newsman]

Thanks Bob for posting the article. It is great to see more local companies succeeding.