Broadband Service to Unserved Rural Areas-Could Delta County Michigan Consider New Broadband Service?

 Escanaba and Gladstone have a need for improved data infrastructure to help its local population connect to a bigger world but also to better ensure they can attract more advanced industries. The beautiful local communities could capitalize on this grant for improvement that could also lead to attracting more virtual workers. Investors, intellectual workers, virtual workers, etc... need fast Internet. Companies also need powerful bandwidth if they want to compete globally. 

The U.P. is one of those places that when you drive a few miles from town your cell phone reception becomes spotty and you may not have access to affordable Internet. I know because I get my bill every month and unless your on the initial introductory offer you will likely be paying a lot of money. 😳

As a community we should look for new opportunities like this to enhance the appeal and connectivity of the community. Expanding out more into rural locations improves the charm of country living and having access to modern amenities. We may also want to enhance access and covered within our town. Some places offer free internet downtown. Not sure if Escanaba and Gladstone do that but I don't think so. 

The following was taken from the Congressman Jack Bergman Brief.........

Washington - United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand today announced that USDA is accepting applications to provide broadband service in unserved rural areas.

USDA is making grants available under the Community Connect Grant program for Fiscal Year 2021. The program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. Grant recipients must provide broadband speeds of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 3 Mbps upstream to all premises in the proposed service area.

USDA will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services, based on requirements that can be found at 7 CFR part 1739.

Applicants are encouraged to review the FY 2021 application guide and sample material online. Electronic submissions must be received no later than Dec. 23, 2020 at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time (EST) to be eligible for funding under this grant opportunity.

USDA encourages applications that will support recommendations made in the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB) to help improve life in rural America. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships and innovation. Key strategies include:

• Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
• Developing the Rural Economy
• Harnessing Technological Innovation
• Supporting a Rural Workforce
• Improving Quality of Life

For additional information, visit www.grants.gov

House Hearing on Drug Pricing-Drug Companies Testify

Drug companies testify.  More information about vaccines and drug prices HERE. 

Presidential Biden and Trump Debate 09/2020

 Presidential Debates are part of getting to know your presidential competitors in order to form opinion for voting purposes. What we might find is that the way in which we think of politics could benefit from change. Many Americans vote strictly party line and only agree with those opinions that are part of their party. A truer assessment of self-belief is when you understand the arguments on both sides and make a personal choice over the ideological aspects you agree with and which one's you disagree with. 

Thus the debates are often about solidifying a base and trying to convert those people who are middle of the road thinkers. Without them we may not need debates in the same way because it is hard for people to think outside of their social networks. It is our responsibility as citizens to think about what we believe and why we believe it outside of social adherence 

There are two videos here. The first is the highlights and the second is the full debate. You can formulate your own opinions, and of course I have my own. The point I was trying to make is that before we promote a message or promote a party we should not do so blindly and instead seek a greater understanding before we shout the world our unevaluated beliefs. Doing so just adds to the noise and confusion around a already divisive election. As Americans we have a responsibility to think about what we believe and how we vote to ensure the truest nature of our democracy comes forward.

Highlights 

Full Length

Governor Whitmer Discusses Increased COVID cases in the U.P.-At What Spot do We have Economy-Infection Equilibrium?

 I'm watching Governor Whitmer discuss increased disease rates in Houghton Michigan and how that might impact the use of putting in place restrictions again. There is a large political debate at what point economic activity is a necessity and at what point slowing the spread of the virus is necessary. I wonder if there are scientist calculating the spot where speed of infection meets the economic openess activity level of businesses. 

I think big data will likely start to answer some of these questions. I don't know if there are scientists studying this cross section and the reward/risk balances in the speed of infection and recovery. We do know there is a lot of data being collected and when we have the time to analyze in real time we may find large macro view of how people and information move around society. We may find bigger patterns in the data unrelated to the disease and more telling of movement within and across societies.

Little Town of La Grange Kentucky-Could Delta County Do Something Similar?

 

Just Northeast of Louisville KY is a little town of La Grange. Not far from Louisville Ky for those who want to get out of the big city for the day. We were there to dive at a local quarry but others were there to relax and unwind from life.  As you make your way through the small downtown you will notice the abundant beauty of La Grange. Farmers, markets, cute store fronts, and a nice quiet family place that looks nearly untouched by modern times. 

Storefronts with big windows, the smell of homemade coffee permeating in the air, and the chatter of families that are enjoying their Saturday afternoon are likely to attract your attention. You can't but help to peer inside some of the stores and check out what treasures are located inside. I suspect a person could spend the entire morning exploring the tranquil sites.

Not sure if this is like this all the time and asked a local farmer stand if this was a "hot spot" tourist destination. He said with a smile that most come on the weekends but don't go to far.  Local tourists frequent on a regular basis to eat breakfast, stroll down the street and sit at the court house. Its the reliving the feeling of a time gone bye where abundant flowers is enough to uplift anyone's mood.

I'm from the U.P. of Michigan and like to think about economic development for pleasure and work. It would be nice to see Escanaba and Gladstone adopt a little more brand management practices to raise awareness of local tourism and investment opportunities. With a little changing of the light and tweaking of policies Escanaba could have its own brand reputation. 

Delta County Michigan has an opportunity to enhance its strengths to engage in micro and SME manufacturing, adventure tourism, and international/regional shipping. Much of the literature discusses how manufacturing and tourism seem to work in polar opposites. However, with a cluster theory I'm working on I believe it is possible to take existing underdeveloped clusters and enhance them with others that have global market alignment to create unique branding and competencies. 

 Micro manufacturing tourism related products can lead to a beautiful store front for tourists and a developing product that can be sold on local shelves and across the globe. Some of these products are likely to bud and in turn be future economic SME boons that employ local workers. 

You can learn more about La Grange HERE.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic Discusses Inflation and Policies

 The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's President Raphael Bostic discusses the economy ranging from economic justice to U.S.-China relationships. Main topics include:

1. Keep inflation moderately above 2% for some time.

2. Metrics on racial equality.

3. Developing strategies for micro investing in underdeveloped communities.

I would agree that the crisis has highlights for us in a vivid way the disparities that still exist in our society. 

Kayleigh McEnany White House Briefing 9/24/20

 Keeping up on the news....