Island Airways selected as small business of the year

The Small Business and Technology Development Center for northwest Michigan has chosen a regional business of the year, and it's Island Airways.

You might think the award comes in the small air charter service's off-season, but it flies as much in the winter as it does in the summer, with the only differences coming in the amount of cargo and number of passengers.

Island Airways is the only mode of transportation all winter for many purposes on Beaver Island, with charter flights daily between the island and Charlevoix.

Owned by Angel and Paul Welke, Island Airways flies to and from Beaver Island seven days a week, 365 days a year. On their busiest summer days, they carry more than 300 passengers. But in the winter, the business changes; with the seasonal closing of ferry service, Island Airways takes most people who want to go to Beaver Island, as well as delivering 5,000 to 8,000 pounds of groceries weekly.

"We operate six aircraft and fly about 28,000 people a year and about 1.2 million pounds of freight," says Angel Welke. The air service operates an airport, maintenance facility and storage hangar on Beaver Island, as well as maintenance and freight buildings at the Charlevoix Airport. It employs 16 people full-time.

It may seem like they have it made, but every business can use some development help, and that's why Island Airways contacted the business development center.

"We have growth opportunities, but it's hard to keep the business going and think, 'How do we get to the next step?'" says Welke. "We needed some professional guidance."

With a new business plan, new financing arrangements and support from the SBTDC, the company now is pursuing air ambulance certification, as well as state and federal air service contracts, with the hope of growing locally as a result.

"That will add jobs," says Welke. "We'll add some pilot jobs and some ground crew jobs and really be able to expand the business."

The company also is enrolled in a state economic gardening program to get grant funding for things like marketing and strategic planning over the next few years.

And, simply, that's why Island Airways is the Northwest Region SBTDC Small Business of the Year. More business, more jobs, and a better local economy means good things for the whole region.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Angel Welke, Island Airways