Northern Michigan University seeds rural development center

While Northern Michigan University could already be considered an engine for economic development in the U.P., the school is making that role even more prominent with a newly-announced Center for Rural Community and Economic Development.

Announced by the NMU Board of Trustees at its December meeting, the center will be launched in January. Seed money is already in the bank for the first three years of operation, coming from external grant funding that has been designated for economic development by the university. The center is expected to be self-sustaining by January 2014 when the grant funding expires.

The mission of the center will be to gather NMU's economic development activities under one roof and bolster coordination and resources available. Some of those components will be research, public service, education and training, all with the mission to enhance economic development and improve the quality of life in the Upper Peninsula and bordering Wisconsin area.

The center will be co-directed by Brian Cherry, head of the political science and public administration departments, and Tawni Ferrarini, of the economics department. While Cherry will focus on the public sector, Ferrarini will work on bringing economics and entrepreneurship ideas to the private sector, and help existing businesses with new growth strategies.

"Our goal is to be a leader not only in the region, but in the nation," says Ferrarini. "We want to be the go-to center for other rural entities and gain national recognition for that in five to 10 years."

The center will incorporate several economic development efforts already taking place on campus, including the College of Professional Studies' workforce development and power line technician programs; the College of Business' entrepreneurship academy and Bureau of Business and Economic Research; and the College of Arts and Sciences' Studio for Experimental and Eco-Design (SEED) and Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship. Another resource will be the Center of Resources for Enterprise, established in 2009, which will continue and work alongside the new center.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Tawni Ferrarini, Northern Michigan University