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ESCANABA - Ralph Bedogne, vice president of finance and governmental affairs for Engineered Machined Products (EMP) offered words of wisdom on how small businesses can establish relationships with government agencies and find financial support to assist with growth.

Bedogne, of Gladstone, served as the guest speaker at the Bay Area Economic Club meeting Monday.

Bedogne, who has worked at EMP for 15 years, explained what his job entails, and discussed why having relationships with governmental agencies is important to the success of a business or company.

"A government relations person wears a lot of hats," he said. "He is the person who develops relationships and understands who to call and can do it in a professional and honest manner."

Bedogne said when he began working at EMP, the company was small, with only 60 employees and very little support or capital. The eventual growth and success of the company was due in large part to its relationships with government agencies, its ability to gain interest in the company and to take advantage of funding opportunities. He said small businesses and even single entrepreneurs could use his "formula" for doing the same thing.

Bedogne said one of the keys to establishing relationships and gaining support is through communication with people at local, state, regional, national and international levels. When he began working at EMP, Bedogne said he began making connections with the local government, working closely with the Escanaba City Council, which assisted in the growth of the company.

Part of establishing a strong relationship with a community includes communicating with local news media, which is important for relaying information to the public about the business.

At the state level, Bedogne recommended finding a go-to person, such as a staffer in the office of a state legislator, who can advise the company and act as a liaison between the business and higher-ups, such as the governor.

"I go to Washington eight or nine times a year because of opportunities, primarily to see Senator Levin," said Bedogne. "We've built relationships, so Gov. Granholm... knows EMP."

For EMP, some of the important contacts made were with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Department of Environmental Quality and the Treasury, said Bedogne. He suggested MEDC as a good first contact when a business is looking for grant opportunities.

Bedogne also recommended businesses pay attention to new funding opportunities by regularly checking government registers and keeping up with the news. He suggested regularly checking the National Register, as well as local, state, and federal Web sites. He also said it's important to pay attention to business trends, to be aware of where money is being invested.

In addition to sharing his ideas, Bedogne also answered questions from the public on the status of EMP. Bedogne said EMP currently employs approximately 400 people. He said the company is looking outside the box for new products to manufacture, including power hydraulics, transmission parts, and highly complicated precision machine parts, in addition to its traditional products. They include heavy-duty diesel components, fluid pump devices, air moving devices, alternators, and thermal systems, to name a few.

The next meeting of the Bay Area Economic Club will be March 1 and will feature a health care panel.