The SBSH Scoop | Last 2 Winter SMART Sessions
These two one-hour sessions are the last two until the Summer Series SMART Sessions kick off on the 9th of June.
Mariah Goos - In just 60 minutes, our SBDC Superstar delivers the critical questions and a simple framework to get your year in gear. We know you’re busy making moves—that’s why this session is designed to fit your "on-the-go" life without the "business" headache. Your future self will thank you!
Miche Rayment - Yes, I’m dishing out a no-drama, high-impact approach that actually makes your team want to show up for their 1-on-1s. In just 60 minutes, we’ll ditch the stiff HR manuals and focus on real conversations that drive satisfaction and growth. Stop checking boxes and start building a team that’s "review-ready" every day. No scripts, no stress—just better work.
Business Spotlight | Don’t Miss the Boat Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours
What this SBSH grant funding truly represents is an opportunity for a more sustainable business.
If you’ve spent any time in the Sault, you know that the rhythm of the river is part of our DNA. Since 1959, Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours has been a cornerstone of that experience, and since Scott LaBonte and his family took the helm in 2022, they’ve been finding even better ways to ensure no one misses the boat.
While the Nokomis and LeVoyageur are currently tucked away for a well-deserved "winter nap," the crew of 30 are far from idle. They recently navigated the SBSH application process—which Scott described as "phenomenal and painless"—and won a direct grant to install a high-tech video system that is a total game-changer for accessibility. Now, a wide-angle camera streams the upper-deck view directly to big screens on the lower level. This means every guest, regardless of mobility, gets that "captain’s eye view" of the Great Lakes.
Whether it’s offering ASL-supported tours when needed, hosting "Sip and Sail" nights with live music, or running those "spirit-lifting" haunted tours, Famous is a regional treasure that truly cares about its passengers. From safety to security to sheer fun, they are making sure everyone can experience the magic of the St. Marys River.
Don't miss the boat! The 2026 season kicks off May 15.
SMART Workshop #7 | Marketing Bootcamp w/Matt Monte
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 8:30 a.m. - noon
Place: Sault Ste Marie EDC Office.
Join our Marketing Bootcamp—a hands-on 3.5 hour in-person working session designed to help you segment the best from the rest. Whether you’re a "fresh-pressed" marketing beginner or a consummate "dark roast" marketer (sorry, the coffee metaphors just keep coming!), we’ll help you find a plan to approach your target market and get moving no matter what your business is.
Walk in with questions, walk out with:
- The Profit Map: Find your most loyal fans and focus your energy where it counts.
- Pricing & Ease: Learn how to make "buying" the easiest part of your customer's day.
- The Digital Edge: Simple ways to make Google work for you, not against you.
The Action Workbook: A custom blueprint of tasks ready for immediate "execution."
We’ll help you position your brand for success and build a feedback loop that keeps the conversation going. Don’t let your message get lost in the "funnel"—come get grounded with a plan that actually works.
Register Soon - It'll be April 15 Before You Know It!
Your Turn | How Are We Doing?
You’re out there running businesses, juggling everything from inventory to snowbanks — so you know better than anyone what works, what doesn’t, and what you wish we’d do next.
Help us make our programming and communications even better.
Totally anonymous. Zero pressure.
Got a minute? Share what you are thinking.
And yes, we appreciate compliments but would hear criticism with a humble and grateful heart too!
People in the Know | Your Local Economic Development Peeps
Here are more people you can connect with when you are looking for resources and connections.
- Bob Sawruk - Sault Tribe - RSawruk@saulttribe.net
- Chris Olson - Chippewa County - admin@chippewacountyedc.com
- Nikki Radke - City of Sault Ste Marie - nradke@saultcity.com
- Miche Rayment - EUP region at large (and Mackinac County) - Miche@HeadwatersNorth.org
- Tammy Henry - Luce County - director@lucecoedc.com
- Tara Parrish - Bay Mills Indian Community - tparrish@baymills.org