News & Stories
MTEC Monthly | October 2026
Halloween is just around the corner, and the mornings are getting colder. Frost is on the windshield, trees are losing their color - fall is officially here! From a new format coming to Return North’s Virtual Annual Career Fair, to a sound that protects migratory...
A Sound Solution for Migratory Birds: Averta Deterrents
You’ve all seen it. Walking down the sidewalk, sitting inside a skyscraper, looking out the window- maybe you’ve even heard it too. A bird striking a window. It’s a very sad but real issue. Glass presents a dangerous environment for birds. According to the U.S. Fish...
Lac Vieux Desert Agricultural Holdings: Growing for the Future
Farming has become increasingly industrialized. Small-scale farming has become a scarce line of work, limiting one’s access to locally sourced food. For many communities, access to fresh produce has become a real challenge. For one business in Watersmeet, this...
RETURN NORTH 10TH ANNUAL CAREER FAIR EXPANDS TO A WEEK-LONG EVENT
Houghton, MI – [September 25, 2026] – Are you looking for a career-building opportunity in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula? Whether you’re looking to return to your old roots, relocate, or take the next step in building your career, Return North is designed to make that...
MTEC Monthly | September 2026
School is back in session, Tech students are back in town, the days are getting shorter, and the northern lights are soon to be at their peak! This month, we’re highlighting the power of strong partnerships, meaningful connections, and knowing what our clients and...
Federal Leaders Visit Our Growing Region
MTEC SmartZone hosted some very important visitors recently. Within the span of two days, MTEC welcomed two federal leaders to Houghton for separate visits. From critical minerals to advanced manufacturing, both provided an opportunity for local voices to be heard and...
Making the Right Connection
Every business has its own challenges. Identifying them is one thing. Finding the right person, resource, or opportunity to help solve them is another. Sometimes, it starts with just getting the right people in the same room. This past February, MTEC SmartZone hosted...
MTEC Monthly | August 2026
Thimbleberries are almost ripe, Pasty Fest has concluded, and another summer is flying by! While we soak up the last few weeks of long, summer days, there is lots happening within our entrepreneurial community. From a major funding announcement to a new innovation...
What It Takes to Become Investable
Fourteen weeks of programming. Over 100 hours of instruction. And, in the end, it all boils down to 5 minutes. 5 minutes to step onto a stage, pitch your company to a room full of investors, and sell your idea. For SinusBath CEO Sergiy Blackwood, those 5 minutes...