A new economic development initiative in the U.P. was chosen out of 173 applicants nationwide to receive
Small Business Administration funding for its future efforts.
The Upper Michigan Green Aviation Coalition will get $600,000 through a new pilot program called "Innovative Economies." The coalition has been given the status of a "Regional Innovation Cluster" by the SBA, which will help it provide business training, commercialization and technology transfer services, as well as counseling, mentoring and other services to support small business growth in the area.
The "Innovative Economies" pilot program is designed to create long-term job growth by supporting small businesses in a way that makes the most of regional economic assets. That's just what the green aviation coalition is trying to do, as it works to develop and support sustainable businesses and industries around Marquette County's aviation resources at K.I. Sawyer.
"Our region has a long standing history of collaboration with strategic partners, including entrepreneurial, business, economic, and workforce development organizations," says Robert Eslinger, who is executive director of business services for the Michigan Works! job force board, as well as co-chair of the coalition's human resources working group.
The coalition targets three main areas in economic development. The first is recycling aging aircraft in environmentally friendly ways; the second is research and development of possible reuses, and in developing new, green products; and finally, getting the green aviation technologies developed to market in commercialized form and building new businesses on them.
"The Regional Innovation Cluster is about developing new business opportunities, creating jobs, and sustaining our quality of life," says Eslinger.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Robert Eslinger, Upper Michigan Green Aviation Coalition
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