UPWard Update

February 12, 2014

Mission: A collaborative effort of the private and public leaders of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and adjoining Wisconsin counties to align and promote the region's resources, expertise, and creativity in order to sustain and grow the region's economy.

Please take a moment to review these updates from the UPWard Initiative.

I would like to thank the UPWard members, and others, that have provided content for these updates. If you have information you would like to share with the group, please email it to me. Holly Peoples

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Natural Resources

Wildlife Habitat Grants available through Michigan DNR

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting Wildlife Habitat Grant Program applications through March 1, 2014. Projects featuring habitat enhancement for game species will be given priority.

The Wildlife Habitat Grant Program (WHGP) began in October 2013 and will be funded with a portion of the revenue of the hunting and fishing licenses sold each year. The DNR administers the WHGP through a cooperative effort between its Wildlife Division and Grants Management.

The main objective of the WHGP is to enhance and improve the quality and quantity of game species habitat in support of specific goals from the Wildlife Division's strategic plan, The GPS. Those goals are:

GPS Goal 2 - Manage habitat for sustainable wildlife populations in a changing environment

GPS Goal 4 - Increase public participation, acceptance and support of hunting and trapping and increase participation in non-consumptive wildlife-related recreation

"This is an exciting opportunity to partner with others in the state to increase the habitat available for game species in Michigan and to enhance the existing habitat for the benefit of hunters, trappers and wildlife viewers," said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason.

Funding is available - through an open competitive process - for local, state, federal and tribal governments, for-profit and nonprofit groups, and individuals. Minimum grant amounts will be set at $15,000 with the maximum being the amount of funds available for that grant cycle. The 2014 overall available grant amount is $650,000.

The Wildlife Habitat Grant Program application period will begin on Feb. 1 and end at the close of business on March 1. Successful grant applications will be announced by April 1. The detailed program handbook and application are available at www.michigan.gov/wildlife.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Education and Workforce Development

Local schools rank high on list

Bridge Magazine puts three schools in top 10 percent

The Daily Mining Gazette

A ranking system by the online Bridge Magazine has put three Copper Country school districts in the top 10 percent of 540 districts ranked in the state.

According to its website, Bridge Magazine provides information and analysis of various facets of government and business in the state, including talent and education, quality of life, success, safety net, and economy and competitive position.

The Bridge rankings uses a system created by Public Sector Consultants of Lansing. The purpose of the rankings is to examine how schools are or aren't "exceeding predicted proficiency" in the school curriculum. It "is designed to compare student proficiency on standardized tests at the school district level, across grades, and over time, relative to socioeconomic status."

The Public Schools of Calumet, Laurium & Keweenaw are ranked ninth overall in the state, and the 11th grade of Calumet High School is ranked eighth in the state. The eighth grade was ranked 28th and the fourth grade was ranked 51st.

Darryl Pierce, C-L-K superintendent, said the ranking is based on data the district sends to the Michigan Department of Education every year. The Bridge began its ranking system starting with the 2011-12 school year.

Pierce said the district ranked so high because there is a philosophy of constant improvement in the district, which includes teachers, students, administration and the community.

"We work all year long on school improvement, and constantly look at ways to improve ourselves," he said. continue reading->

Business Growth and Development

Plus One Recognizes New Jobs in Marquette County

Lake Superior Community Partnership

MARQUETTE - Forty-eight Marquette County businesses have collectively created 241 new jobs in 2013 and were recognized for their participation in the Plus One Program on Wednesday, January 29 during the Lake Superior Community Partnership's Annual Meeting.

Michigan Works! and the Lake Superior Community Partnership's Plus One program is a program designed around the premise that an employer adding just one employee contributes to the economic development in Marquette County. Since the inception of the program seven years ago, Marquette County businesses have created 2,022 jobs.

The businesses recognized in 2013 were: 906 Technologies, Bald Eagle Harley Davidson, Biogenic Reagents, Boomerang Retro & Relics, Checker Bus, Das Steinhaus, Dia de los Tacos, Discovery Central, Elegant Seagulls, Frei Chevrolet, Frontier Medical, Global Response, Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, Great Lakes Radio, Great Lakes Recovery Center, Integrated Designs, Inc. - Marquette, Integrated Wellness, J.M. Longyear, LLC, Lakestate Industries, LASCO, Marquette County Road Commission, Negaunee Public Schools, Northern Initiatives, No-Shank, Inc, Outlanders Dinner To-Go, Panache: Events, D�cor, Boutique L.L.C., Range Bank, River Valley Bank, Ron's Taco Shop, Schramm's Superior Properties, Select Realty, Spotless Results Cleaning, Superior Contact, Superior Design, Superior Rehabilitation & Professional Services, Superior Title Insurance, Theresa M. Sell FIC, Thrivent Financial, Tractor Supply Company, U.P. Sportsplex, Ulta Beauty, U.P. Catholic Credit Union, U.P. Home Health, Hospice & Private Duty, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, VAST, WBUP/WBKP-TV ABC 10/CW 5, Wealth Strategy Group, Window Outfitters and Yooper Shirts.

If you are interested in participating in the Plus One program in 2014, please contact Betsy Morais at 906-226-6591 or bmorais@marquette.org.

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UPEDA Membership Meeting

February 27, 2014

Location:

Island Conference Center

Harris, MI

Time:

9:00AM EST - 3:00PM EST

Topics include:

Pure Michigan Byways and Heritage Routes- Learn how Pure Michigan and the Michigan Department of Transportation are working together to create economic development around historic stretches of roadways in Michigan. Hear specifically about the Heritage Routes in the UP and how you can take advantage of them in your area.

University Economic Development and Entrepreneurial Resources- Hear from leaders at NMU, MTU and LSSU about the high impact efforts they are engaged in to bring new business to our region and to develop the workforce for high demand jobs in our area.

Regional Prosperity Initiative- Funds are coming to our area to bring us down the path of prosperity. Lean how you can be a part of that effort to engage with UPEDA's mission and the planning regions to build upon past success.

Community Profiles- Participate in a working session. Members will discuss the importance of the profiles and share ideas on how to use them to (i) increase corporate membership; (ii) raise funds; and (iii) market their counties/areas/regions. Participants will look through the EYO 2012 profile and note issues; make suggestions on how to improve. We come together to discuss how to improve the profiles. Also, decide on how to standardize the data collection process; Devise a plan of action for collecting the EOY 2013 data and get suggestions on what to do next to expand, broaden or deepen the project.

One-Minute Updates

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Higher Education

Michigan Tech Archives Recognized as National Heritage Site

Michigan Technological University's Archives has long been a popular spot for students, researchers and locals to find information. Many come to view the abundant records, search the photographs of the area and Michigan Tech, research family history or look at the collections of old newspapers. Now, however, the Michigan Tech Archives offer the added attraction of recognition as a Keweenaw National Historical Park (KNHP) heritage site.

"It's really great," says Julie Blair, interim University archivist and strategic initiatives librarian. "It's nice to get the formal recognition. It creates more opportunities for us to collaborate with the other participating heritage sites, such as the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, the Houghton County Historical Museum and the Calumet Theatre. It also makes us eligible for additional support from the park, such as funding for various grants and displays."

She hopes that now, with heritage site status, the Archives will see an increase in out-of-town visitors, including summer tourists, who come to learn about the area.

"We are working on an exhibit that we hope will be interesting to those anticipated visitors, and we would like to include aspects that appeal to travelers who come here with families," Blair said. "They don't necessarily think of archives as a vacation destination spot." continue reading->

Education and Workforce Development

Bay hosts SkillsUSA competition

Daily Press

The best career and technical students from across the Upper Peninsula will compete in various skills categories on Friday, Feb. 20, in the annual SkillsUSA competition hosted by Bay College. This year's program will begin at 9:15 a.m. with registration in the student cafeteria and will conclude at 3:00 p.m. with an awards ceremony.

Student competitions are held in automotive, computer maintenance technology, precision machining technology, tech drafting-CAD, electronics, and welding.

The Delta-Schoolcraft ISD coordinated last year's SkillsUSA competition, in which approximately 150 students participated from across the U.P.

This year Bay College will award six $750 scholarships to students who place first in the overall categories.

SkillsUSA programs include local, state and national competitions in which students demonstrate occupational and leadership skills. SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the lab and classroom, and promote community service. SkillsUSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is cited as a "successful model of employer-driven youth development training program" by the U.S. Department of Labor. National SkillsUSA week will be celebrated Feb. 8-14. continue reading->

Business Growth and Development

League hosts forum on Graymont proposal

SooEveningNews.com

More than 40 people braved winter storm conditions Thursday night to find out more about a proposed land lease involving a potential limestone project in Mackinac and Chippewa counties.

The League of Women Voters of Eastern Upper Peninsula hosted the forum, which included representatives from Graymont Inc. and the Michigan DNR. The event was held at the Superior District Library's Bayliss Public Library.

"We are at the beginning of our journey," said Port Inland Plant Manager PJ Stoll of Graymont Western Lime Inc. "We still have a lot of work to do."

The company is at the beginning of its application process said Stacy J. Welling Haughey, Upper Peninsula Regional Coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources. "This is an 8-step process and we are on steps one and two."

Graymont has submitted a proposed land acquisition application to obtain 13,000 acres in the two counties to set up several surface mining areas and possibly one underground limestone mine.

"This is a proposed transaction at this point," Haughey said. "We have a stringent review policy. The DNR's only role is the land transaction process."

Graymont is the leading producer of limestone in the United States and is a privately owned company based in Canada. They do run a regional quarry in Gulliver in the U.P.

The current process started in 2012 when the company approached the DNR about a land transaction and the DNR allowed the firm to do exploration work.

"Several years ago, we started an exploration project looking for limestone in the region," said Robert M. Robison, director of mining and geology for Graymont Inc. "We focused on a study area involving 120,000 acres." continue reading->

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UPWard Initiative

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