MEDC Chief Visits Marquette

With the economy slumping in Michigan for several years now, where are economic development efforts in Michigan going?

The head of the state’s largest economic development agency has been crossing the U.P. to provide some answers.

Greg Main is the CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

He’s been in Houghton, Escanaba and Marquette since Monday morning to let the U.P. know what the group is up to.

For the U.P., he thinks natural resources of all kinds play an enormous part in economic revival, including mining.

Main says he thinks projects like the Kennecott Eagle mine proposed for Michigamme should be brought forward and built.

He makes sure he stays abreast of U.P. issues since he spent quite a few years earlier in his career with U.P.-based economic development groups.

Main is also worried about the future of the ‘Pure Michigan’ travel ad campaign.

It would cost about $30 million to keep the tourism ads — which were filled with U.P. images — on the air on national cable TV.

He says so far, the legislature hasn’t agreed on a way to come up with that money, but he hopes they can figure it out.

Main was planning a similar event in Sault Ste. Marie as well.

But the advancing winter blast has forced him to cancel that event in the Soo and head back home to Lansing a bit early.