Greater Gratiot Development Board of Directors and Affiliations

The GGDI organizational and board member structure is designed to mimic the requirements first advocated for the Federal Small Business Administration’s Certified Development Corporation (CDC) program. GGDI was once an independent CDC but now affiliates with the Michigan Certified Development Corporation to offer certain types of business financing. Even though GGDI chose to no longer be a CDC, it was determined that the organizational structure was an excellent way to assure maximum countywide involvement and transparency of purpose for economic development activity. Therefore, GGDI kept the CDC board membership structure. Today GGDI has a 32-member Board of Directors.

GGDI board membership includes representatives from political and geographic areas of Gratiot County and represents the major segments of the local economy. The Board has organizational appointments and at-large appointments. All board positions are annual appointments. Member organizations have standing positions and are responsible for annual appointments to the GGDI Board. At-large positions are determined and selected by the GGDI Board to ensure that all significant economic sectors are represented and the widest interests of the county community are addressed. The GGDI Board of Directors meets on the third Friday of every month at various locations around the County.