Expanding an industrial park before developing a bicycle trail was a mistake, said Mary Ann Heidemann, one-time Economic Development Corporation (EDC) director for Presque Isle County. Now a land policy educator for Michigan State University Extension, Dr. Heidemann discussed economic development with the Mackinac County Planning Commission Thursday, January 7. She told local planners about the successes and failures and the impact of projects spearheaded by the Presque Isle County EDC over the five years she served as director.

She was invited to speak to planning commissioners in Mackinac County, who have been asked by the county board of commissioners to study the issue of improving economic development here. County commissioners were considering reinstating the county's efforts to spark development last winter, before ultimately asking the planning commission to take over studying the issue. After the county had tried and failed to achieve a successful economic development program that created year-around jobs, county commissioners pulled the plug on financing the Mackinac County EDC in 2005.

An economic development program would set priorities for economic growth, plan infrastructure and other developments in a way that would allow for future growth, and capitalize on opportunities to attract new businesses to the area while retaining existing businesses. Another would be to expand the county's tax base. A director would be needed to run the office.

When Dr. Heidemann addressed planning commissioners here, she said the traditional industrial park concept didn't work in her county, but the bicycle trail was a success.

The bicycle trail, she said, has proven to be a boost to that county's economy and tourism. The cyclists have come as families, spent money during their stays, told friends and relatives about the trail, and now some of those riders are looking into buying property in the county, said Dr. Heidemann.

"The old industrial park concept was tried mightily and, frankly, didn't work," she said. "In Presque we put all that work into an industrial park and it was a major flaw. And the things that weren't taken as serious, things like the bicycle trail, oh my gosh, was that successful. Now that bike trail has been extended and now it's going to connect on the west side and we've got bicycle tour groups coming."

A variety of projects were pursued in that county, she said. Some were tied to the old economy of industrial-based approaches like developing an industrial park and others are connected to new economy approaches, which focuses on a community's assets, like creating a bicycle path.

"I think the old economy stuff we tried to do was the least successful," she said.

The expansion to the county's industrial park was three years in development, including constructing roads and adding water and sewer. Once completed, more than two years passed before one business

moved in, even through the county offered tax incentives and much reduced property costs.

"Is industry really the ticket to the future?" she asked. "What we used to do in the past to bring a community to prosperity may not be the answer in the future."

The EDC took on a wide range of projects in that county and completed them, she said, including rebuilding the airport, improving roads, restoration of the county courthouse, expanding the industrial park, and constructing bicycle trails. The EDC also offered community forums and seminars for businesses. Through the EDC's efforts in grant writing, the county received $22 million, which was used to pay for the projects. In other counties, some of the work might be done by county leaders, she noted, but Presque Isle County lacked staffing for that.

"They could have been done by the local government," said Dr. Heidemann of the projects, "but they didn't have anybody at the county to do that. So the EDC, in effect, ran a lot of projects for the county board because there was nobody else to do it."

Presque Isle County became aware of the interest in cultural tourism only by accident and now, in addition to the bicycle trail, the county taps into promoting maritime tourism, she said. The county owns 40-Mile Point Lighthouse and, for years, left its care to a volunteer group.

"They put out a little donation box," she said. "And the day the county board changed their mind was the day the county committee was out there and they opened up the donation box and the money literally fell out across the floor."

The county commission was very surprised, said Dr. Heidemann. The importance of maritime tourism had not clicked with them.

The key is to figure out what an area has that appeals to other people, she told Mackinac County planners, and then market that advantage. This community has many advantages, she pointed out, including the view from St. Ignace of the water and of Mackinac Island.

"One of the many reasons I like St. Ignace is that it is real," she said. "It's not phony, it's not cardboard and vinyl and stuff. This is a real, functioning community. That appeals to me and that appeals to a lot of people."

Establishing an economic development program that benefits the county is something local planners would like to see happen, although getting past the challenges is proving to be difficult, said Chairman Ken Drenth.

"Economic development is frustrating," he said, "especially now. One of the interesting challenges and phenomena for Mackinac County is that we are so large. From the west end of the county to the east end of the county, you're talking 100 miles. So what works in one area of the county may not work in another area of the county, and what the needs are in one area are different than the other area. Then there's a certain innate conflict and jealousy that somebody gets something we didn't get."

One of the development humps the county has not been able to overcome, he said, is to get companies willing to offer high-speed Internet access throughout the county. The sparsity of the population in some areas has left people with no service.

Commissioner Cheryl Schlehuber wondered how planners could address all of the needs of the county and promote the variety of advantages in specific communities without alienating other areas.

With Mackinac County's unique circumstances, Jeff Hagan, executive director of Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning, offered that planners might separate the county into three segments, west, central, and east. Then, set five priorities for each area and begin working on meeting the needs of each segment.

"Every year there are going to be winners and losers," he said. "One year St. Ignace may get a grant, another year it might be something on the west end. Everybody is not going to get everything at the same time, but at least if you prioritize it, it is kind of a level playing field for all projects."

Commissioners said they would continue their discussions about development at a future meeting.

County Commissioners Halt

Survey to Townships

In a related matter, the county commission has put a hold on a survey developed by the Planning Commission seeking township opinions on the formation of a county wide EDC. County Commissioner Calvin McPhee said the expense of hiring a third party to conduct the survey is prohibitive.

"We pretty much agreed that, at this time, we'll hold off on going out with that, to spend that kind of money to find out we don't need it or we do need it," he said. "Things are tight right now."

He told Mr. Drenth it was too bad the group had spent the time developing the survey only to have it put on hold.

Mr. Drenth asked for a letter to be sent to the planning commission explaining the county's position.

In other business, commissioners continue to wait for word from Mackinac County Prosecutor Fred Feleppa on a proposed planning commission ordinance that would bring it into compliance with the Michigan Planning Enabling Act. The ordinance outlines the planning commission's role in the county. The proposed ordinance was given to county commissioners in August, who sought review from Mr. Feleppa.

The planning commission voted to send a letter to Clark Township stating that the Clerk Township Planning Commission's decision to rezone a parcel from residential to commercial is consistent with Clark Township's Master Plan.

Mr. Drenth said Cedar Cove assisted living center wants to buy a piece of property to add a new entrance. For that to happen, the property requires rezoning from residential to commercial. The new Clark Township Master Plan has the entire plat being rezoned to commercial, which the Clark Township Planning Commission decided to pursue. The Mackinac County Planning Commission is required to consider the matter before it is given to the Clark Township board for its consideration.

Mr. Drenth, a member of the Cedar Cove board, abstained from the vote.

Ken Gilmore, assistant director of the Mackinac County Equalization Department, was recognized for his contributions to the planning commission. He has extensive experience in creating county maps and offered support and to serve as a resource to the group. He was scheduled to retire from his county job Friday, January 15, after 38 years and this was the last meeting he would attend.

Commissioners also elected officers, making no changes with Mr. Drenth remaining as chair, Oliver House as vice chair, and Dean Reid as secretary.

Planners set their 2010 meeting schedule, beginning in May, as the first Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. in the Mackinac County Airport meeting room. The board also agreed to change the date and place of its February meeting and cancel its March and April meetings.

The planning commission's next meeting is Thursday, February 11, at 2 p.m. at the Village Inn restaurant in St. Ignace.