Gary Anglebrandt CommunicationsSpecial coverage of economic development and business climate in St. Clair County, Michigan (immediately north of main metro Detroit region). I managed the coverage content, in addition to creating the main piece and a supplementary blog with photo gallery.
The full section (PDF) is at Crain’s Detroit Business.
The waters of St. Clair County and the month of June — two things for years I have been saying people could do more to take advantage of for summer recreation.
On the Friday of the first week of this month, I took these sentiments to heart and kayaked 27 miles in St. Clair County, starting in Lake Huron and ending at Algonac State Park, journeying nearly the whole length of the St. Clair River.
The economy of St. Clair County has long lagged those of its metro Detroit neighbors to the south. But its biggest hurdle may be moving the mindset of its own residents.
High school graduates are as likely to head for the county border in search of greater opportunities as to stay, and residents see local leaders as just as likely to get in the way of new ideas as to encourage any.
“The city didn’t get along with the county. The foundation stuck to itself. Everyone just did their own thing,” said Randy Maiers, president of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.
But a spate of recent projects, totaling $234 million in planned or underway investment, has development officials touting a reversal of that trend. They say there’s a new appreciation for collaboration and making better use of the area’s natural asset, its water geography, to attract business. They aren’t predicting a massive economic boom or large-scale influx of new residents, but instead simply want to capitalize on what exists to create an improved quality of life for those who are there.