"Connecting" the U.P. to the Global Economy: Let's Plug in Opportunities for Tourism and Manufacturing

Communities in the U.P. are often not connected as well as they should be which in turn limits their ability to navigate the new Digital Economy. From an economic standpoint places like Delta County offer have underexplored opportunities for tourism and small batch advanced manufacturing. It also carries potential as a distribution/assembly hub and the short term rental market for Digital Nomads. 

Well....maybe....assuming we can find the wall plug!🤯

Connecting U.P communities with the wider global world helps to encourage stronger opportunities to develop and attract global interest on social, recreational, and investment (i.e. economic manufacturing opportunities in Delta County) potential.

The following was taken from an email press release. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 8, 2021 CONTACT: James Hogge 231-944-7633

Bergman Introduces Rural Broadband Window of Opportunity Act

Washington - Today, Rep. Jack Bergman introduced the Rural Broadband Window of Opportunity Act to level the playing field for broadband expansion in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Specifically, the bill would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prioritize the processing of broadband expansion applications located in areas with shorter build seasons. Over the coming months, the FCC will be reviewing applications and other relevant documents submitted by service providers who are seeking to receive federal funding for broadband infrastructure buildouts through the $9.2 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I (RDOF). (Read more about RDOF here).  Communities in Michigan’s First District are slated to receive a large portion of these funds, which will be implemented by service providers over the next 10 years. However, it is important for these service providers to begin building out their networks as soon as possible to not only meet their program obligations but simply to get unserved and underserved communities connected as soon as possible.  For this reason, the Rural Broadband Window of Opportunity Act would ensure the applications for buildouts in areas with limited construction seasons, such as due to long and snowy winters, are processed faster than others. Any bureaucratic delays would have greater negative consequences in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula than in areas with more temperate climates. “I’m proud to introduce the Rural Broadband Window of Opportunity Act because it is common sense that the FCC should process RDOF applications faster for Michigan projects where a dark and snowy winter is always around the corner, as opposed to projects in less seasonal states. We need to get shovels in the dirt as soon as possible – especially considering the increased need for telehealth and remote working during the pandemic. This simple change would level the playing field for the service providers who have put skin in the game to connect the many households and businesses in Michigan living on the wrong side of the digital divide," said Rep Bergman.

bergman.house.gov

Latest State Sponsored Microsoft 30K Hack Raises Need for New Data Infrastructure

 A recent hack, by what is believed to be a state sponsored entity, sought to gain access to business information on 30,000 businesses. That is a huge hack with massive amounts of sensitive information being passed covertly from email servers to state actors. 

The U.S. is always going to play catch up until business and government stakeholders decide to bump the infrastructure to the next platform which moves us further into the Information Age and adaptation of  businesses into the Digital Economy.  

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (HR1319) Passed by the Senate March 6th 2021

Remarks by President Biden as Senate passes the $1.9 trillion Covid relief plan by a 50-49 vote. You can read the bill HERE. You might have an easier time searching for things your interested. There is a lot of different kinds of things that include functional aspects like updating our data infrastructure to "good will" items such as helping people keep their apartments/homes. 

American Relief Plan Passes Senate 03-06-2021 

"The Meeting" Between the Pope and Shia Cleric-5 Letter Word Uttered!

We don't often think that religious leaders like Pope Francis and Shia Muslim cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani have much to do with business success. To the influence of religious leadership it important to understand that such figures are opinion makers that give direction to large swaths "of the faithful". What they say matters in terms of peace and commerce.

History is full of examples where religion was the chisel that created societies (and destroyed some). While religion is pure, people are not always; and some have distorted religious imagery for political gain. "The Meeting" Between the Pope and Shia Cleric sends a prime message of "Peace/Salam" to followers. 

Peace is essential for sustainable economies built off of trade and the free exchange of ideas. Commerce and trade rest on the ease of movement and collective learning that leads to long term innovation (actually peace and overcoming challenge). War not only destroys lives, but also completely disrupts business activity. Religious leaders should consistently pick the path of peace for the health and prosperity of their people.

When media displays images of different religious leaders working together to promote peace they help others grasp the possibility that peace on earth is possible. "The Meeting" acts as a primer for how people of different religions should act toward each other to bring about a world where needless pain and suffering are minimized.

Religion is such a touchy topic with zealots (in each religion) that fail to understand the greater purpose of having these belief systems in the first place. Radicalism (of any religious group) short circuits a greater awareness of the commonalities among peoples of seeming different backgrounds.

I have experience with Catholicism and Islam and find the commonality among different religions. Where we choose to place our emphasis is all up to our personal belief systems and the social environment in which we live. To think for yourself is a difficult thing to obtain; but is a prize worth pursuing. 

February 2021 Unemployment: Leisure and Hospitality Pick Up

What you want to see in any recovering economy is people returning back to work. It will help people keep food on the table and pay their bills. February 2021 Unemployment Rate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics stands at 6.2% as the economy added 379K jobs. Because the leisure and hospitality industry has been hit hard it is a positive sign they are going back to work. 

Delta County Michigan also has a leisure & hospitality industry that rests in part on locals and on tourism. Bars and restaurants are now opening and that will make a big difference in the County. You can see some statistics on Delta County at Data USA. Somewhere around 40% (Very generic non-hard number) of the employment would be impacted by re-opening. 

Current Rates:

• adult men (6.0 percent),
• adult women (5.9 percent),
• teenagers (13.9 percent),
• Whites (5.6 percent),
• Blacks (9.9 percent),
• and Hispanics (8.5 percent)

You can still see some of the disparities between different members of society. Some of this is based on the nature of work and demographics. Some of this is based in discrimination and lack of inclusiveness. Separating the two is difficult but not impossible. 

Leisure and Hospitality Returning Workers:

• Leisure and hospitality increased by 355,000

January 21 Unemployment Rate Bureau of Labor Statistics by Dr. Murad Abel on Scribd

China Economy Poised to Grow Over 6% in 2021

China's economy is expected to grow over 6% this year. Some believe this number could even be much more such as 7 or 8%. 

While emerging nations can realize these gains, some of their growth will depend on the strategies the U.S. enacts. 

 For example, if less Chinese goods are making their way to American ports this won't bode well for Chinese manufacturers. 

Assuming no major challenges or disruptions those numbers are possible if market conditions swing in their direction. 

Walmart to Invest $350 Billion into American Manufacturing

Walmart craves to be part of the American manufacturing revolution. John Furner, President and CEO, Walmart plans to invest $350 billion in products made, grown and/or assembled in the United States. The initiative occurs over 10 year period, and projected to create approximately 750,000 jobs. That change might boast local manufacturing and in turn prompt other big box retailers to push their supply lines to manufacture nationally. If you are a U.S. based small manufacturer you will want to take note of emerging opportunities to create a stronger position.

What Will be Produced?

Investments hopes to encourage production for things like textiles, plastics, small electrical appliances, food processing, and pharmaceutical and medical supplies. Much of the effort will be focused on products that were traditionally produced in China but will now be pushed to produce in the United States. 

Environmental Advantages?

Fostering closer supply chains while keeping an an eye out for for reducing innovation and pollution. The company could save 100 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. The best time to to turn businesses green are either during a major transition and/or when they are first launched. 

What To Do If Your a Supplier?

They expect to encourage around 9,000 entrepreneurs to be part of the capacity building effort. If you have a "shelf ready" product then you can pitch for consideration to be included in Walmart's line up.  For many small manufacturers having a large big box retailer like Walmart pick up your product is a boon. You will have to read more about it HERE (I wonder if they would be interested Escanaba Polo Mallet Co mallets and/or brand? 🤔).

What is the American Lighthouse?

Without coordinating across local and regional manufacturing stakeholders it will be difficult to overcome capacity building challenges. "The Lighthouses will bring together participants from the supplier community, including manufacturers and NGOs, leaders from academia, government and local economic development groups.(Edelson, 2021, para. 9).

What is the Strategy?

The company expects major changes in the market as a result of increased competition with China. It also sees that investment in these supply chains would be helpful to managing them better. The focus of the investment money will be on market demand products that give Walmart more control over its suppliers. 

Earlier this year President Biden signed a Made in American Executive Order that seeks to preference American companies in the $600 billion Federal spending. $600 billion + $350 billion is a lot of money. Now with with luck 🙏 add in a few other "big box" retailers (i.e. Meijer's and Costco) as well as a few automotive suppliers (i.e. Ford and Chrysler) and a couple of other industries and you might just create a manufacturing stimulus never seen before! (I actually wonder if that would work?❓︖𞥟 A manufacturing push that large could reorient global supply chains as companies move headquarters, invest local, start new businesses and create innovative products that China might have difficulty copying for a long time. A $5trillion stimulus launched by industry? 👀😲🤔🤷). 

(I'm working on a transactional cluster theory that I think could be used as a foundational basis for local  and nation industry (and new unseen industry) development).

Edelson, S. (March 3rd, 2021, para. 9). Walmart Gets Behind U.S. Manufacturing With 10-Year, $350 Billion Investment. Forbes. Retrieved 03-05-21 https://www.forbes.com/sites/sharonedelson/2021/03/03/...