Reactivating the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is back on the Mackinac County agenda following an economic development focus session attended by Commission Chair Dawn Nelson. Leaders from around the community taking part in the grant-funded focus group, she said, sought county

support in the revitalizing the EDC.

"I firmly believe, if we can do something, we should be doing something," said Mrs. Nelson following the commission's Thursday, January 8, meeting.

Tourism-related jobs have been the county's main industry, with an influx of summer visitors to the area, particularly to Mackinac Island. The county also draws snowmobilers when winter weather cooperates.

In the last seven years, ferry lines have reported a drop in travelers and Mackinac State Historic Parks estimates the area is seeing 300,000 fewer summer visitors a year than it did in 1998.

Through the years, the county has tried and failed to achieve a successful economic development program that created year-around jobs.

Now an economic plan is being developed for a 17-county area, including the entire Upper Peninsula and two Wisconsin counties.

Funding for the study and plan comes from a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor. NorthStar Economics of Madison, Wisconsin, has been conducting an online survey, along with focus groups like the one attended by Mrs. Nelson and other area leaders.

With commissioner Carl Frazier absent from Thursday's commission meeting, the board agreed to delay any decisions to reorganize the county's EDC until its Thursday, January 22, session. Discussion then is expected to center around plans to appoint new members to the nine-seat EDC board.

"It would have to be someone who truly knows you just can't sit back and be wishful," she said. "I would like to see some leaders who are economically inclined."

Other communities that have someone spearheading economic development who are passionate about their work and follow through on projects are successful, she said.

According to state law, board members are appointed by the county commission chair with the consent of the commission. The board is to be at least nine members with no more than three designated as county representatives. At least three members are to come from the private sector.

Staggard terms range to six years.

Mrs. Nelson said she would look for community members who are willing to take an active role on the board and participate in improving economic conditions in the county.

"Tourism is only one component of it, really," she said.

Mrs. Nelson, a former member of the EDC board, plans to draft a plan on a vision for the future of the EDC. The draft could serve as a starting point for EDC discussions, she said.

"I prefer to call it a draft," said Mrs. Nelson, "because I feel all the board members need to be a part of it."

County commissioners pulled the plug on financing the EDC in 2005, leaving only meager funds in the budget that year to cover meetings. They also offered no support staff other than assistance provided by the Michigan State University Extension office. At that time, commissioners said, the EDC showed little progress in helping the county gain jobs. Without the support of the county, EDC meetings became sporadic until the group simply stopped meeting.

Commissioners say the importance of economic development has never been the question for them, rather they objected to the lack of progress the EDC had made.

In two weeks, the commission also will be discussing if it should hire an EDC director, or if commissioners would make that a goal of the new EDC board, Mrs. Nelson said.

Reactivating economic development in the county by hiring an EDC director was discussed by the commission in 2007, although they made no progress and the idea was dropped after one meeting.

Commissioners meet at 4 p.m. January 22 in the annex building of the Mackinac County Courthouse.