Anyone who has visited Sault Ste. Marie lately can attest to the fact that the city isn't resting on its laurels as being a great place to live and do business. Instead, it's constantly trying to improve itself through various means, including fostering a positive entrepreneurial environment.
Those efforts have gained the recognition of iLabs, the
University of Michigan-Dearborn's Center for Innovation Research. The center recently honored Sault Ste. Marie as a four-star community--along with 44 other communities in Michigan--for its work to foster economic development and business growth.
Sault Ste. Marie has put into place efforts to promote resource collaborations between the
Economic Development Corporation,
Lake Superior State University, local industries, research organizations, entrepreneurs, and other community institutions which provide a breeding ground for the growth and development of technology based businesses and jobs. The Sault Ste. Marie Advanced Resources and Technology breeder building operates as a collaborative partnership to provide a local, single point resource for entrepreneurs and business partners throughout the region, the state, and even globally, where ideas and concepts become prototypes with a feasible business plan for subsequent manufacturing and market delivery.
"It is exciting to be recognized as an entrepreneurial community," says Kristen Claus, executive director of the Sault EDC. "It is the goal of the economic development corporation's board and staff to foster, support, and grow our own local entrepreneurs and businesses. The incredible talent that we have here in the Sault provides our community with a diverse manufacturing base allowing us to remain strong and prosper even in these tough economic times."
Marquette was also included on the list as a four-star community, the only other Upper Peninsula location named.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Kristen Claus, Sault Ste. Marie EDC
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