Escanaba City Council Regular Meeting (July 06, 2023). Flowers, Gardens, Hustle & Bustle of an Emerging Northern Destination

Source: Escanaba Post Card Museum

Escanaba is a small northern coastal town with a rich history that includes loggers, Native Americans and fisherman (The Legend of Escanaba). Today it still maintains some of that flavor and culture with tight knit community members who take great care over the cities success and future opportunities. As a Great Lakes get-a-way it holds promise for young entrepreneurs who desire to start their own business as well as those who want to vacation with respite from the immediate effects of Global Warming (it was 68 degrees today. I went lap swimming in the lake.). 

By watching the city council meeting below you can find lots of examples of events and activities that may perk your interests for a visit. Likewise you will also see people making a concerted effort to help their fellow citizens and city thrive for another 100 years. There is genuine caring among people and its rare. 

Yet the city is more then just a budding entrepreneurial and eco-tourism place. It is also a city that holds potential for other small cities that want to learn about turnarounds. While western UP. towns are declining in population and investment, Escanaba has attracted over a $billion in investment and millions in state infrastructure as well as attracting new residents (new housing is being built. I wonder if there is money in investing in local small business development and real estate. Perhaps there are some who are thinking about it. Hedge American Start-Ups Esky). 

That being said, it still must find ways of raising city revenue and while some of that may come from new people and investment, there may be much more to do with the downtown, marina, tourism industry to create longer term sustainability. That will require coordinated marketing and methods of converting entrepreneurial interest into actual opening of doors (i.e. banks, grants, real estate, permits, etc.)

Most of the information will be in the agenda. July 6th, 2023 Escanaba City Council Meeting Agenda

A couple of nice things I noticed.....

New dock signage is going to look great! Someday we should build two obelisk as a welcoming beacon to marina visitors. During events we can run a strong across with flags. Kind of a cool thought of putting some local cultural information on each of them that represent those that live here now and those who lived before. I guess one could consider statues or even mini solar lighthouses so everyone knows where the entrance is. 

Resolution for Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs through Bonifas Art Center. 

The BEA provides information in Arts and culture economic activity (2021) as 1.2 Trillion or 4.4% of GDP. Remember these are more direct contributions and not reflective of indirect contributions which are likely to be bigger. 

"The Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that arts and cultural economic activity, adjusted for inflation, increased 13.7 percent in 2021 after decreasing 4.8 percent in 2020. By comparison, the broader economy, as measured by real gross domestic product (GDP), increased 5.9 percent in 2021 after decreasing 2.8 percent in 2020. Arts and cultural economic activity accounted for 4.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), or $1.02 trillion, in 2021."

You can also read about MACC Strategic plan for Michigan HERE

Enhance Escanaba is looking for members. You can learn more about that HERE. 

Honor Flight using Ludington Street. Respecting our Veterans is living each day with meaning and purpose in awe of those who came before. Have you helped your community today (This community or any other)? Small things add up.......