ESCANABA — On June 11 I had the opportunity to attend the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Region 1 Educational Forum. It was attended by many of our friends from the MEDC, as well as economic development organization leaders from around the Upper Peninsula. During the event I had an opportunity to present to the group. I pulled together information on new businesses that had started up over the last 18 months, existing businesses that have new owners, major investments by businesses in the area and major initiatives for Delta County. After my talk with the group, I had many positive comments about all of the positive things happening in Delta County. We have such a great story to tell.

I shared with the group that citizen feedback from the 2016 City of Escanaba Master Plan included comments “that we need to utilize the UP State Fair Grounds better”. The Delta County Chamber quickly took the feedback to heart and put plans in place to build a new home by the grounds. The Commerce Center Ground Breaking Ceremony was on August 16 of 2018 and the new Commerce Center had its ribbon cutting ceremony less than one year later on August 12, 2019. Utilization of the grounds is another success story. The last 90 days there were 20 major events on the Fair Grounds and another 20 events scheduled in the next 90 days. This would include the UP State Fair August 11-17th. The Chamber building itself has served as a business hub of activities for the area. With about 40 events rentals of space for meetings & private parties. All of the Victory Cruise tours stop to tour the two fabulous museums; Webster Marble’s Inventing the Outdoors & the UP Military Museum. The feedback from our visitors has been extremely positive! The leaders that I told this story to were amazed at all of the activity in the area.

We have another opportunity to share our story this week with our many visitors from the Epson Tour Island Resort Championship. 156 golfers from all over the world will get taste of life in the UP The positive comments from our visitors touch many other individuals they talk to as well. If you have never been to this event at the Sweetgrass Golf Course at the Island Resort & Casino, you should check it out. It is a friendly cost-effective way to spend the day! You will also get a chance to see a couple of major projects on the casino property. The expansion of their convention center and their new golf pro-shop. I had a chance to see both them last week and they are unbelievable.

Many of our visitors get a taste of Delta County and can’t wait to plan a longer trip in the future!

A quick shout out to Matt Valiquette, the operations manager for the UP State Fair Grounds as he was named the “Business Person of the Year” by Upper Peninsula Business Today. Great job Matt.

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Ed Legault is executive director of the Delta County EDA