One of the greatest carton board machines in the world is coming to Escanaba and that is an amazing thing! I think this is really great and it is a time to celebrate these important partnerships. During that celebration let us not forget the local stakeholders of Escanaba. One of the reasons why people voted and made changes is to help the community (That is the way I see it anyway.). They are a people who care about the jobs that young people are going to obtain and want them to stay closer to home (Many who finish college often leave so this is a chance to get them opportunities in the paper industry. Most want to see their grandchildren grow up in the same town. Some leave and want to come back.).
There will also be some infrastructure improvements that are also very helpful to the community and that will lead to potential greater growth in other local job markets. This is why I think Escanaba should consider improving its small business market attraction to lure start-ups in a way that draws resources to the small business community downtown (Some of these may be new vendors for the mill and some new tourism/outdoor businesses for downtown.)
While I'm a light right Republican, I will say that I like to think of these things as potential win-win for the region and for the people of Escanaba (I mean that as local in terms of 50 miles range that includes the tribal members and Gladstone, Rapid River, Bark River, Ford River, etc... If we wanted to be gracious maybe Rock.). Yes, I care more about the little people than the big people most of the time. I also believe that benefits should help the average Escanaban/Gladstone/Tribal citizens in ways that increase local revenue and improve parks, lives, libraries, health, education, and opportunities.
The longer term opportunities related to this and other investments should really give the community a chance to reconnect to the global market. For those who know me, I can talk all day about economics, politics, life, religion, fishing, boats, cars, etc. etc. talk, talk. Philosophy is my favorite. Blah, Blah, Blah..... (I'm pretty brutally honest about most things I think. I got to work on tact.)
My philosophical side says, "Wouldn't this be a great opportunity to show how revitalization really works as potentially one of the first digital era advanced manufacturing towns? A type of rebirth in relevancy as a microcosm? (You sort of have to understand communications investments, industries served, wider stakeholders, other activities, etc. and how this money can transform us; mostly for the good. As I have seen in my life, money can bring good but also can bring the bad out of some. That is here, that is anywhere on the planet.)
While I have met many investors in my life, and I think in many/most ways they help make the world go around, I'm more worried about the people in my hometown and ensuring that the jobs that are provided will sustain the next few generations. I like economics and dabble from time-to-time in some silly economic theories (Discard them quickly please...also I didn't go to an ivy league school for very long so likely not to have much value. I also failed an economics class once so certainly not on a good track record. 😬). Most theorists believe the tools they develop should be used for broad based growth (hopefully human capital development)
Trickle down, trickle up, trickle sideways economics. Its a good article.....
‘Historic’ investment will bring largest piece of machinery in the world to Escanaba
*I'm a little person that came from a very little person background with most chips stacked against me. Money can do wonderful things in giving additional little people a chance to succeed and fulfill their dreams. It can also be just another score card for the "country club" (I like country clubs too! I'm probably going to join The Highland Club this year just because my gramps was once a member and maybe I can get my kids to become members someday as well. I have memories from that place.). The point being that we are a community of real people and while we talk about economics on a theoretical level let us not forget the little people and how opportunity impacts their dreams as well. For me, its about giving back now. Ok off my soap box......
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