Progress comes from making many small decisions that add up to bigger outcomes. While progress may mean different things to different people, it can mean to a small town the rejuvenation of opportunities, maximizing future generational opportunities, and the bucking of a trend experienced by many towns left desolate when the Industrial Era ended (One might say when the Industrial Era was sent overseas for a few cents on a share! There are opportunities to bring that back home during the new Digital Era where small towns just like Escanaba can find a new place, perhaps an important place, in the global supply chain.)
(Its all about opportunity and choices to put an organization in the most advantageous spot to take advantage of emerging digital and end user trends not specifically bound by locality. This means places like Escanaba that have basic digital-industrial infrastructure, lifestyle advantages, and policies that encourage local growth may have more appeal to a creative class when compared to many traditional big city locations.
(Matching this creative class with investors/capital/banks, entrepreneurs, purpose and digitally friendly smart cities can makes a difference. See Delta Multi, tourist micro, Downtown Rejuvenation, DC start up, NeuroEco.)
(If there is anyone you want relocating into your area it should be the entrepreneurial and creative class. They open businesses, they are involved in the community, they are educated, have access to resources, and motivated to building opportunity. We will just need to align the elements needed to successfully attract this group and create an environment that can start to rejuvenate to the needs of the global market.)
Escanaba City Council Agenda Dec. 1st, 2022
There is a discussion on zoning within the video and that is important so pay attention to how the city deals with zoning issues. Zoning helps to ensure an orderly town. For example, we don't want heavy manufacturing mixing with residential housing for safety reasons or perhaps ensuring livestock doesn't graze in the park creating a nuisance. There is a balance between the different stakeholders.
Zoning sometimes needs to be updated to ensure that it is organizing the town to the best position to grow by allocating space for development (Some places call these developmental zones.). If there is a need for more types of business but they don't have adequate facilities, they may consider changing zoning to attract business to certain areas (i.e. downtown).
In this case, I honestly did not review it much so I will say in general that if it opens up more opportunities and possibilities for additional business downtown then it would be a positive move. To me downtowns should be fun and lively social places that often come to represent the brand image of a town (A new main street, bike-golf cart lane, sidewalk sitting, events, marina, parks, etc...) If you look at very vibrant communities that retail market value you will notice boutique small business districts where people walk, shop, eat, party, etc.
(People want to come visit these areas, buy summer homes, start businesses, enjoy the outdoors, and much more. Covid has taught them the value of online work life with local life balance. )
Let me add, in Escanaba we have room for and need for exportable products that draw wealth into the area beyond retail (i.e. why I advocate for retail and exportable micro to medium manufacturers). Small custom manufacturing (i.e. golf clubs, fishing poles, fudge, polo mallets, etc. ) that can have at least a small store front and export their products to world markets would be very beneficial for community short and long term benefits (Are there people who can help them get their products out?).
As theoretical model clustering tourism attractions (unique retail store fronts), with small manufacturing (export oriented) among new housing (apart/condo above downtown buildings for short and long stay with new hotel development), among local events and nightlife options (food and dinner) in a way that they encourage each other.
Synergy occurs when different elements within a cluster build from and off each other so that there is net gain among the many stakeholders. For example, outdoor tourism leads to tourism industry interest, which leads to more tourism investment, which leads to new businesses, which leads to, etc... on and on and on. The end result is a net positive for the industries connected to the cluster in some areas that lead to new paths of developments and when the combination is right whole new industries (You can create the determinants of maximize innovation within certain industry(s) while putting together the variability that allows for whole new industries. Its just about connect the right resources, knowledge, and investments in the right place at the right time to create a growth spark (i.e. new significant patent or finding).
One could determine the elements that lead to new industries and innovation and create growth clusters. Your mapping your cluster and finding a way to manage it through other resource adjustments that improve the reach of discoveries. In theory anyway. 🤣 Its true and we know its likely true but how precisely that happens is harder to explain.
Clusters are micro economic environments that are easier to see and manage. If you set one up well you could put the right metrics in place to keep track of change i.e. investments, amount of business started, grant amounts, level of engagement, marketing dollars, internet content analysis, FDI interest, etc., etc.,etc. The measurements would be determined by the purpose of a cluster. It might also show what type of measurements are needed going forward to understand local economics based on newer economic models that are more reflective of the needs of the digital era.).
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