U.P. Towns Not Growing as Fast as Wisconsin: Delta County MI May Red Buck the Trend!

Small towns in the U.P. have a lot of potential but there hasn't really been a coordinated effort to ensure they grow. A whole new array of people are out there that want to be digital nomads. According to this article below the Wisconsin side is growing while the U.P. are not. For example, Delta County Michigan is growing and there are reasons why that is the case and why there is a lot of room for improvement.

Western Upper Peninsula towns empty out, look to Wisconsin for lessons

Why Delta County is Growing as there is likely to be a 2K population Billerud increase that could be retained and maximized.

1. New investment

2. Coordinated effort to improve the community.

3. Marina, docks, recreation, and events. 

4. A desire to attract new investments (No concerted plan I can see that offers packages for investors. This might be where local bank, investor fund, entrepreneurs, state, federal and city government might coordinate some efforts. Personally I think they should attract tourism based export businesses like custom golf clubs, snow shoes, and other things that can have a store front but will find most of their sales overseas. That would require some effort on collaborating on creating an export market for their products, getting them listed in marketspaces and then marketing those products to wholesalers. That would allow larger anchor businesses to follow suit and maximize their marketing efforts as well. i.e. a marketing fund.)

5. Internet, Rail, Port, and other infrastructure.

6. Local recreation and outdoor tourism

7. Unused commercial downtown space that could attract business (i.e. if it was marketed to investors/entrepreneurs).

8. More

Why It May Lag

1. Partial dysfunction at least one layer of government (i.e. Escanaba and Gladstone seem to be doing fine but the county could use some work.)

2. A need for local enforcement reform that is open minded to new investors, people, and nationalities (Ensuring they are not following their social groups and the less lofty values of their social groups).

3. Open social groups that seek to make newcomers welcome and involved with the community (Some are open and welcoming and there are a few that are not. ).

4. Lacking a central place to showcase all of the events to maximize participation.

5. More

There are probably more but that is the first start. For example we can talk about investment packages and marketing but that is a different discussion.