University-Industry Research Pooling for Cluster Development

Clusters are "communities" of like mined organizations and stakeholders that share similarities in characteristics. These similarities also create opportunities for shared R&D among multiple organizations at the same time (They build others they build themselves). For example, the Aerospace Industry and the Navy might have shared needs as they relate to a new tool or a new product design made from rare metal. All of that requires some level of effort and offering opportunities for business to pool their resources so researchers find solutions to industry problems. 

That of course doesn't mean companies can't research issues on their own (Flying solo might work for specific patents but doesn't work well for industry breaking technologies that unlock doors to unknown future industries.). They would then be focused more on specific application of industry research for their own needs (...leading to patents, products and wealth specialized to that company). However, when we are dealing with mutual shared interest in research that benefits manufacturers and other societal stakeholders there really isn't much of a reason not to do it and hedge the skills and knowledge of different companies to investigate and resolve issues that impact multiple industries at one time (Remember that when we solve industry problems and then specific application within particular companies we lead to US, and other partaking stakeholders, leading industries and world economies. It would be helpful us to have a tax system that encourages R&D and turns companies doing business in the US. to moving their headquarters to the U.S. leading to further intellectual dominance. See Calibrated Tax Structure MNC Draw and Calibrated Tax Structure HQ Concept.  and 15% International Tax Floor).

Here are a few benefits of pooled cluster research. 

1. Location Enhances Innovation: Locating R&D and university research in the same space and on the same problems increased problem solving and the wider applicability of findings for national development. See Fostering New Discoveries See Location and Growth

2. It Creates Shared Competencies and Like Minded Rationality. See Hub Competencies

3. It Creates Opportunities for Skilled Labor: Cutting edge products also create opportunities for advanced labor knowledge. See Firm Specific Human Capital.

4.) It allows business researchers to try out ideas and then apply those ideas to other clusters throughout the country. Localized and Regional Hub Benefits

As a nation we will want to ensure that we stay on top of competition and be that country where real innovative magic happens (perhaps as part of a global brand in alignment with our core principles. Much of culture was spread through commerce.). That may require us adjusting how we think of university-research relationships in an effort to solve practical problems. We are building not only a nation but also a network of other nations and allies that may also benefit through contribution. It is an opportunity to put our STEM knowledge to work in created business and social benefits through wider global supply chains. 

Imagine a New Ludington Street! Contest for Downtown Microgrant

Ok I know its super cheesy but it was
5 spare minutes and an old digital photo!

Escanaba has so much potential as a city and rethinking our town can make a big difference in the lives of our residents and "livability". The town maintains opportunities with its strategic location, port, under-developed downtown, marina, tourism, outdoors life, and motivated entrepreneurs. Just behind the surface is a small city that can develop and grow into something unique with its own brand and opportunities. 

We have to first envision it! The information below is taken from the webpage of the project. See Michigan Municipal  League Foundation for information on the microgrants.

The Daily Press has a pretty solid discussion on it here 'Escanaba in contest for downtown microgrant"

Project Description:
A streetscape placemaking experiment featuring pedestrian friendly improvements from café seating to street side planters, integrated community art, music, and recreational events based around participating businesses. A visioning charrette will encourage the community to imagine the future.

Location:
Escanaba

Description of the Artist's or Artists' work:
Staci is the education coordinator for the Bonifas Arts Center, a painter, and ceramics artist. We are still discussing the project, but a collaborative chalk art exhibit with students is possible.

The outcomes hoped to achieve are:
To demonstrate the value of unique placemaking by combining an interactive arts and music event with a community visioning/ charrette exercise to engage the public and encourage interest in the future of the Ludington Street area in Escanaba. Promoting local business, restaurants, and recreation.

https://mmlfoundation.org/grants/resilient-ludington-street

Delta County From Homestead to Marina Happy Hours: Two Pictures

 Delta County Michigan is one of those places where you can pretty much get the best of multiple worlds. For those who love horses and homesteads you can done your flannel start a hobby farm while those who love the nautical lifestyle may find themselves raising their wine glasses at a Marina happy hour. Its a place where four seasons and all the blessings of a varied lifestyle can come down to a single place (Depending on the season you can pretty much get about everything in. If you don't like a particular season wait a few months and you can be snowshoeing and rabbit hunting.) See Delta County Neuroeconomics and Adventure Capital

Stonington

Escanaba Marina

Jupiter Moon May Sustain Life-Europa Probe 2024-Need for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Robotics

 Jupiter's Moon Europa may contain life and that is our space entry level target. There is a probe that will be sent to collect data by 2024. It is possible that under the ice surface there is the possibility for biological life. That would make it an alien find! (...even if it is only microbiological or even as complex as a plant). The probe is expected to collect information and beam that back to Earth for review.

It should be noted that we are a product of evolution (...as a leading theory among a couple of theories of our origins.) and therefor our environment and our unique challenges created our species (and all the other species on our planet). On another planet with a different atmosphere and different challenges there will be different evolutionary paths (Meaning properties that carry big benefits and/or big risks).

While we might expect the universe to be made from the same fundamental materials we are constructed from, we can't say that 100% for sure. Understanding things thoroughly and containing them until they are rigorously tested (....preferable remote and in absentia. Like a moon base or a space station) is important for not carrying new "invasive species" and other items back to our planet before we can deem them safe (We haven't even fixed the Great Lakes problems yet! Can you imagine alien bacteria?🙅). 

Artificial intelligence and advanced robotics are important to not only reaching these planets but also to function in collecting samples and testing them for use. We are moving into a digital age (i.e. Information Age) and we need to innovate our AI and advance robotics to function semi-independently on other planets (We all watched Terminator so please keep a couple of back up "off" switches please! Periodic auto deactivation built into the hardware at various intervals would be cool. 🤣)

Advanced hyper innovation is just one of the reasons why clusters could help in connecting the various stakeholders together that can create advanced research outcomes that impact multiple industries at the same time (i.e. I need a robot for house chores and walk my pouch.). We will see a greater push in STEM in schools (The good news is that new knowledge also brings efficiencies in the use of energy and resources and perhaps the technology to reverse aspects of Global Warming 🤞🖖. Environmental stewardship is a good value. I like the outdoors too much to let it go to rubbish!)

Escanaba Marina American Flags

The City of Escanaba did a great job putting up flags along the Marina mouth. It makes the place look great! People like to see a little color. If I was trying to brand a place I might put intersperse some local flags with our colors. At the mouth would be a nice place to put some very nice racing flags to attract attention.

The marina can be a big draw for the area and could attract all types of boats from leisure in the harbor to larger yachts on the other side (I haven't see any yet but if it was a seasonal tourist draw that could be possible). 

Tonight I was out fishing. For the last week I was using fake bait but tonight I splurged and bought some night crawlers. Didn't help! 🎣

What did I catch? No fish but good pic! 

Northern Sun Winery Comes Under New Ownership and Hosts Musicians and Charity

Northern Sun Winery was recently purchased and now ramps up its offerings by hosting musicians and raising money for charities. The charity tonight was to help children in Africa. Delta County needs more venues like this where people come out and enjoy the process of music. I'm thinking they should have some wine and art events as some of the local artists were there and seem to be part of the same demographic. 

I talked to one of the people that are really big into the local art community and I was to help out (assuming I was here) to remove and restore a painting that was moved to a Detroit museum for restoration. It was one of the only egg shell paintings of the labor movement era (taken from a local post office when it closed and put in storage and then lost. Beaver Island I think.). 

People seem to be suggesting a single place to host all of the events in the area. Everything from small concerts like this to city fireworks. That site should be simple (there are lots of places to do this but one must pick one) and placed as a link on various communications including official websites.

People who like one type of product/activity also like other associated ones. By hosting associated events they can also attract those demographics that would be of interest. For example, if we analyzed wine drinkers we may find similarities with other demographics. This is one study but you get the point. See Wine Drinkers in the U.S. 

Northern Sun Winery

Here is the link to Google Map.  Here is the website Northern Sun Winery

983 10th Rd, Bark River, MI 49807

A Few Ideas on Getting Your Business Through the First Few Years

 Developing and growing a business is not easy! There is a big learning curve that can make or break your prospects. There are a few things you may want to consider during your first year. 

1.) Focus on Brand: Profit is wonderful but your brand and core service offering is what will keep your business open next year. 

2.) Find Balance but Work Hard: You will need to work hard and harder than you thought to keep your business floating. The first few years are about sweat equity. Find a balance but stay focused. 

3.) Secure Financing: You either have all the money you need or you don't. There are fluctuations and dry spells so have back up cash/finance.

4.) Collaborate: Work with other small businesses in the area. They also need help and you can hedge and share services. If nothing else you have a community of people. 

5.) Develop Your Operations: This is your time to develop your operations. Figure out where you are getting your resources, how you are preparing them, and what distribution channels you are using. 

6.) Marketing and Awareness: Connect with your customer base. Get involved and find those marketing channels that focus specifically on your core customer group. If you don't know what that is make sure you spend the time figuring it out. 

Diving a Private Quarry-Business and Picking Up Trash

 A group of us dove a private quarry a week or so ago. Didn't get a chance to put it up. We are supposed to be diving a shipwreck tomorrow early AM. The guy in the video does runs a business with lures, recovering lost items and general safety. As you can tell he is picking up trash that people through in the water. Kind of sad how some people treat our environment. 

59th UP Trappers Convention (Esky State Fair Grounds) July 9-10, 21

Browsing the activities I noticed the UP Trapper Convention. I might head over there and take a look. I have some traps in my garage and had a plan to trap. I put a few out (I think the year before last) and got nothing. I'm probably doing something wrong. It would make sense to go ask some questions about bait and location. Some like this stuff and some don't but either way its part of the local lifestyle. 

59th U.P. Trappers Convention and Outdoor Expo

July 9 – 10, 2021 | Escanaba Michigan

Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds

More Information Here

June Jobs Report Department of Labor (DOL)

Jobs are updating and the market is shifting creating additional pressure on labor. You may want to keep up-to-date on the June jobs report. Here are the highlights....

• 
  "Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 850,000 in June, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 5.9 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, public and private education, professional and business services, retail trade, and other services."

There was an increase of 164,000 of people who left their job. That is interesting because it means they have confidence they will find another job quickly. Market transition, depending on the new types of jobs they get, can be helpful in creating flow from low skilled jobs to higher ones through natural market driven labor movement. 

For those in the U.P. we might want to keep in mind mining and manufacturing because it puts pressure on developing our own industries here.... 

• "Employment in mining rose by 10,000 in June, reflecting a gain in support activities for mining. Mining employment is down by 110,000 since a peak in January 2019. 
• Employment in manufacturing changed little in June (+15,000). Within the industry, job gains in furniture and related products (+9,000), fabricated metal products (+6,000), and primary metals (+3,000) were partially offset by a loss in motor vehicles and parts (-12,000). Employment in manufacturing is down by 481,000 from its level in February 2020.
• Employment in transportation and warehousing was little changed in June (+11,000). Employment gains in warehousing and storage (+14,000), air transportation (+8,000), and truck transportation (+6,000) were partially offset by a loss in couriers and messengers (-24,000). Since February 2020, employment in transportation and warehousing is down by 94,000. 
• Construction employment changed little in June (-7,000). Over-the-month job losses in nonresidential specialty trade contractors (-15,000) and heavy and civil engineering construction (-11,000) were partially offset by a gain in residential specialty trade contractors (+13,000). Employment in construction is 238,000 lower than in February 2020.