It’s not easy to get 12 local governments to agree on anything. In an effort to galvanize economic growth opportunities along the I-69 corridor, however, that is exactly what the
Prima Civitas Foundation is working to do. Together with 12 municipalities and five local economic development organizations, PCF is organizing a coalition with one common goal: capturing economic opportunities that drive right through Michigan every day.
What would that look like?
“Port Huron is a gateway for freight coming through Michigan,” says James Smiertka, Senior Vice President & General Counsel for PCF. “Ninety percent of the freight that goes through there doesn’t stop.”
That freight could stop at a local factory to be reassembled or processed. As of now, those trucks typically drive through to such opportunities in Chicago or elsewhere.
“One of the things we’re working to do is to create this corridor that would be come internationally known so companies would locate here,” says Smiertka.
The goal is to create a
Next Michigan Development Zone called the I-69 International Trade Corridor. The zone would be governed by a board representing each community and having the ability to develop the corridor, market it and more. PCF has been working on the concept since February, organizing meetings of the coalition members and educating communities.
Now, each local government needs to pass a local ordinance to agree to continue the process.
“I’ve never seen such local and regional cooperation,” Smiertka says. “They’re seeing the value of what this could be.”
Source: James Smiertka, Prima Civitas Foundation
Writer: Natalie Burg, News Editor
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