Kim Stoker elected chair of UPEDA

HOUGHTON -- Kim Stoker, Executive Director at the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR), was recently elected the chairman of the Upper Peninsula Economic Development Alliance (UPEDA).

UPEDA is a non-profit 501(c) 3 economic development organization, incorporated in 1999. The membership consists of private companies, utilities and local and regional economic development agencies throughout the Upper Peninsula. Their marketing campaign and information systems are funded solely through membership contributions. UPEDA is the primary economic development organization actively marketing the Upper Peninsula for business attraction and retention.

The mission of UPEDA is to enhance, link and promote the unique aspects of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as the superior location in which to invest and conduct business.

"It is more important than ever that we collaborate on economic development initiatives as resources become more limited. Governor Snyder has recently designated the entire Upper Peninsula as Region 1 for his statewide economic development collaborative agenda, and it is critical for UPEDA to work closely with this effort to ensure our needs are met," Stoker said of his chairman responsibilities.