By John Bebow - August 7, 2008
Participants in the Michigan's Defining Moment Public Engagement Campaign have envisioned our furture state as "the vibrant 'North Coast. A place that is home to one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water and other bountiful natural resources that support sustainable growth in industries such as agriculture, tourism, and forestry. And a place that grows ever smarter and innovative."
Sometimes it feels like we ain't doing half bad. Consider these examples on what is yet another beautiful Michigan summer day...
1. AN ORIGINAL ROAD TO PROFITS -- State Highway M-22 is among the most gorgeous drives in Michigan. It takes you past the ice cream shops and dunes of Empire and through the Leelanau Counties rolling hills, lake-filled countryside, and tony burgs of Glen Arbor, Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay. And now some enterprising folks are honoring M-22's twists and turns with a simple and eye-catching line of beach wear -- hats, sweatshirts and even coffee cups adorned with a simple road sign. Brilliant!
2. MICHIGAN WINES -- Michigan wineries used to be a novel stop on a Sunday drive or vacation. Now they're big, and tasty, business. There were 356 wines from 34 commercial wineries entered this week in the 31st annual Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition. Check out the winners here.
3. CONSERVING GREAT SPACES -- One million dollars in funding from Michigan foundations will help boost land conservancies operating across the state. Recent tax law changes have helped conservancies permanently protect more than 400,000 acres of coastline, forests, unique agricultural land and other natural areas.
4. A SURGE FOR AUTOMATION ALLEY -- Recession? What recession. The Oakland County-based Automation Alley technology business organization added 33 new members in July. "Each month, Automation Alley continues to attract a variety of new members from different industries to the organization," executive director Ken Rogers tells the Great Lakes IT Report. "We now have more than 940 members from across the region. Our all-encompassing reach is proof that Southeast Michigan is indeed a region brimming with new and exciting technology."
5. INDUSTRY UPTICK IN WEST MICHIGAN -- Commercial real estate agency Grubb & Ellis reports that the industrial real estate vacancy rate has dropped more than a full percentage point, to 8.2 percent, in the past year.
2 Comments
Tuesday evening, i got home from work and took the wife and kids down to the beach.
by 6:30pm the sand was cool, the sun was still warm, the breeze was soft and cool, the water was a little chilly.
After playing in the water for a bit with my 8 yr old, 7 yr old, 3 yr old and holding my 2 yr old, and playing in the sand for awhile, i lay back on the towel next to my 10 week old baby and relaxed under the most beautiful blue sky with the gentle sound of waves rolling in and kids squeaking in happiness. It was really awesome.
I feel bad we dont take advantage of one of the greatest resources in the world more often.
Everyone should. Its an experience that you cannot get anywhere else.
You just have to vacuum out the van when you get home.
As a read your pt. 3 on "conserving great spaces", I could not help think about the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority which was created nearly 70 years ago by citizens of southeast Michigan and has preserved thousands of acres of open land enjoyed by the region's population.
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