Forest Processing Renaissance Zone: Could Wood and Other Muliti-Clusters be Forming in Delta County?

Big discussions on the Forest Products Processing Renaissance Zone in Wells today. (Go Wells...sorry that is my area. Some people cheer for teams and some for societal success. 📣). These zones allow for tax carving which can be good or bad depending on how they are designed (You can see an official definition and which taxes are protected in MEDC FPRZ.). In this case, Escanaba is getting a once in a lifetime opportunity to rejuvenate multiple arenas at once. We got a good team in office and the right environment. 

We only need to squint our eyes to see how this game changing, town changing, multi generational changing, branding opportunity, that could lead to new life to a budget crunched town as a future Smart City 😏🚜🌲🎄. We can never truly stay stagnant and the last 20 years since I left and came back appear to be just a little more sleepy looking (Infusion of investment helps reverse the declining population trend and create inflows of money, knowledge, and resources into the area.)

“It’s the largest investment ever made in the Upper Peninsula and it’s really to transform the Escanaba mill,” Fittante stated.... 

“...and so, we’re asking the locals to be actually part of that solution by passing a renaissance processing tax exemption.” (Truitt, 2022, para 2)

Tracking market change, economic elemental adjustments, political shifts and investment trends helps to understanding the market and create levels of forecast and Bayesian Method. ( See Verso Merges with BillerudKorsnas AB Investments in Escanaba (Delta County Economic Cluster Model and original work in progress paper Delta County Economic Transactional Cluster Model)

Consider the growing space race and investments to the north in Marquette, ship building/refurbish in Escanaba and to the south in Marinette (The need for new break wall.), manufacturing renaissance in the U.S. (a reason why this mill is converting to boutique cardboard boxes.),  interest in downtown (Marina, House of Ludington, Hotel, zoning, tourism, etc.)greater need to maximize our export infrastructure (U.S. supply chain development), internet and water infrastructure, a push into the Digital Era, electric auto invests in MI, and you start to see a ripe environment. 

There are steps to innovation. See Organizational Innovation Steps. Creating the framework for innovation is important that first it is cognitive focus that leads to organizational strategic development. With proper cultural awareness and a global mindset we might be able to make something out of it. Build some local wealth. (Maybe maybe not? 🤷 Its just fun to think and hypothesis about!)!

Some Light Related Reading:

TV 6 Article (Dec. 19th, 2022). Wells, Escanaba Townships to hold special meetings to consider Renaissance Zone

Truit, J. (Dec., 19th, 2022). New Life for Escanaba Paper Mill. U.P. Matters. https://www.upmatters.com/news/local-news/south-central-up/new-life-for-escanabas-mill/

MLive (Dec. 13th, 2022) Upper Peninsula paper mill could get $1B upgrade

(Seriously! I just saw all the snow in the background and I will be back in a few weeks. Brrrr I will need to snow blow. )

(This article and article like it are designed to increase stimulation of thought on important national development concepts.)