Next Michigan Zone

For the first time ever the Marquette City Commission and the Marquette County Board held a joint meeting. Their goal, tonight, collaboration for regional success. The public entities are joining forces to create the “Next Michigan Zone”

The Next Michigan Zone was created to foster economic opportunities for new and expanding businesses. The meeting was called to approve the corporation they are forming,  complete with bylaws to help outline duties, responsibilities and agreed upon processes.

“This is one more tool in the tool box. Economic development is very challenging, getting companies to create jobs is hard but this is one more way to make that happen. The important factor is, this lines us up with the state of Michigan and the Michigan economic development corporation and it’s a good example of us working together regionally,” said Don Ryan, Marquette City Commissioner.

“The more you can work together the more government units working together the better off we will all be. It’s better for the taxpayers, it’s better for government and it is less expensive,” said Bruce Heikkila, Marquette County Board.

This “Next Michigan Zone” will include the cities of Marquette and Escanaba as well as the counties of  Marquette and Delta.