Comprehensive Economic Development (CEDS)

On this page you will find documentation of our CEDS meetings including agendas, recordings, or special materials, meeting schedules, and information on contributing and getting your project recognized for U.S. EDA funding.

Bi-monthly CEDS Meeting Schedule, 2023

The bi-monthly CEDS Meetings for 2023 are as follows. Any changes will be posted here as soon as possible. All meetings will be held in person alternating between the Michigan Works! Marquette and Escanaba locations with a virtual option available. All meeting times are 10:00-11:30am EST

Meeting #1 - Thursday, February 23 in Marquette *virtual*
Meeting #2 - Thursday, April 27 in Escanaba
Meeting #3 - Thursday, June 22 in Marquette
Meeting #4 - Thursday, August 24 in Escanaba
Meeting #5 - Thursday, October 26 in Marquette
Meeting #6 - Thursday, December 14 in Escanaba

Updates

2/23/23

The Central UP CEDS Committee met for the first time in 2023 virtually due to weather concerns. Aubrey Moore was still able to join us from Senator Peters' Office to tell us about the recently passed acts and state initiatives in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Ryan presented on CEDS 101, an introductory course relating the CEDS process, getting projects funded, and the role of the US Economic Development Administration. Broadband updates were also covered.

11/29/22

The fifth and final meeting for 2022 took place in Marquette, Michigan with a virtual option. The Committee was joined by Janie McNabb who shared her work on the UP Childcare Task Force addressing the need for quality childcare in the area with the help of grant programs. Marty Fittante from InvestUP and Joe Thiel from the Innovate Marquette Smartzone shared some big news for the outdoor recreation innovation industry and what this means for economic development moving forward. Watch the recording on our YouTube channel.

Download the agenda here (pdf)

Download the presentation Slide Deck (pdf)

9/27/22

The Central UP CEDS Committee met for the fourth time focusing on the topic of rural health. Presenters included Kate Beer, Health Officer of the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, on the results of the U.P. Adult Health Needs Assessment; and Elise Bur, Director of the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health, on U.P. Food Hub aggregation, distribution, and feasibility study.

Download the agenda here.

Presentation materials:

**There is a NEW CEDS Project Submission form! Please use this link to submit your projects to be included in the CEDS and eligible for Federal funding. Feel free to share with your partners.**

Are you interested in joining the Central UP CEDS Committee? Please send an email to our Senior Planner, Ryan Soucy, at rsoucy@cuppad.org

7/28/22

The CEDS Committee is meeting today for Steering Committee Meeting #3.

Download the agenda here.

There is a NEW CEDS Project Submission form! Please use this link to submit your projects to be included in the CEDS and eligible for Federal funding. Feel free to share with your partners.

Unfortunately, there were technical difficulties during this meeting and no recording is available.

5/31/2022

The CEDS Committee meets quarterly to discuss progress on goals and objectives, to share economic development updates across the region, and to learn more about current initiatives.

The second quarterly CEDS meeting took place on May 31st, 2022, in person at the Michigan Works board room in Escanaba, MI with a virtual option. Tom Stephenson of Connected Nation Michigan presented on the new Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which provides funding for audits and infrastructure.

Bruce Moore from Highline Internet gave a progress report on their internet access and fiber-to-home projects across the Upper Peninsula.

Kyle Miller joined us with a demonstration of the tracking and data tool, Placer.ai. and related the possible applications it could have for local economic development, business attraction, and tourism data analytics.

View the recording of the meeting on the C UPPAD YouTube Channel (don't forget to subscribe!)

3/29/2022

The CEDS Committee meets quarterly to discuss progress on goals and objectives, to share economic development updates across the region, and to learn more about current initiatives.

This was the first meeting of 2022, in which we were joined by May Tsupros, Director of Programs and Partnerships at Partridge Creek Farm, for a presentation on the importance of food knowledge and security and the community impact observed in Ishpeming, Michigan.

View the recording of the meeting on the C UPPAD YouTube Channel and the slide deck can be downloaded here.

3/1/2022

Marquette County Economic Recovery and Resilience Strategy

After the economic challenges brought on by COVID-19, recovery and resiliency became the top priorities for the region. New industry development and attracting and retaining a talented workforce were among the priorities in Marquette County.

As part of the CARES Act in 2020, CUPPAD and TIP Strategies, Inc. facilitated and produced the Marquette County Economic Recovery and Resilience Strategy. This Strategy is meant to complement the County's Marquette 2040 Master Plan and the CEDS. The Press Release announcing the strategy can be viewed here.

The Marquette County strategy will serve as a template for the other five counties served by CUPPAD; Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Menominee, and Schoolcraft, which will collectively become the Central U.P. Economic Resiliency Plan. This will give each county the personalized and nuanced approach to economic recovery and resilience that they require.

9/23/2021

Special CEDS Meeting

This virtual meeting was held in order for the Committee to vote on the adoption of the current CEDS draft. It was passed unanimously. The Central UP CEDS is available here.

8/12/2021

CEDS Meeting #4

The public review period for the CEDS is closing and received comments and edits are being processed. It is the committee's hope that the October meeting will see the passage of the CEDS. The U.S. EDA announced funding opportunities through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) which were shared with the committee. Details on these opportunities can be found in the presentation or on our EDA Funding page.

Regional economic development updates were shared, which sparked a conversation on Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in and around the Upper Peninsula.

Resources:

Planning and Zoning for Electric Vehicles - Upcoming webinar with Brad Neumann, AICP, MSU Extension. September 16th, 2021.
Michigan UP EV Readiness Workshop - YouTube, recorded December 2, 2020. Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), was a half-day virtual convening, designed to connect municipalities and business leaders in the Upper Peninsula. This is a discussion on what is needed to make Michigan “EV Infrastructure Ready."

7/13/2021

Draft Available Now for Public Review

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the Central U.P. draft is now available for public review. The CEDS is a guiding document meant to be a blueprint for the future economic development of the region with guiding principles for community growth. Regional partners have collaborated in order to identify strengths and assets, new opportunities, along with needs and risks to develop this plan to move our region forward, increase quality of life, and prepare for growth with measurable goals and objectives.

Please email comments to our Senior Planner, Ryan Soucy, at rsoucy@cuppad.org, or use the contact form.

6/24/2021

CEDS Committee Meeting #3

Bruce Moore, President and General Manager at Highline fiber internet joined to give a presentation on his goals and continuing work to bring highspeed fiber internet to the U.P. through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF).

During this meeting, progress on the CEDS plan was shared and the committee reviewed the Goals & Objectives section, making necessary changes and clarifications. Steady State and Responsive projects were discussed in length.

4/16/2021

CEDS Committee Meeting #2

This Committee Meeting was cancelled.

3/18/2021

Central U.P. CEDS Committee Meeting #1

The Central UP CEDS Committee met and discussed the first draft of the CEDS. Strategies and action items were refined and new goals were taken under consideration. Some of our hottest topic areas focus on talent attraction and retention, manufacturing, and broadband internet infrastructure and access.

The public review for this document will be available on March 26th.

If you have a project to be included in the CEDS, please contact us.

Download the PowerPoint Presentation from this meeting here.

12/1/2020

This year, we split the CEDS goals into five categories and created a specialized subcommittee for each:

Resilient Regional Economy
Talented Workforce
Modern Infrastructure and Technology
Excellence in Education
Improving Health and Well-Being

We are currently forming these subcommittees and having meetings to refine and redefine goals to meet the region’s needs, taking a fresh look at our initiatives, and creating smart objectives that accomplish concrete results. Additionally, the CEDS will be an online document, one that can be fluid and change with the needs of the region. This information will be readily available upon completion at our information hub (in progress).

Through Mural we are looking for contributions and input in our SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis. Our SWOT Analysis will help us to focus on lacking areas and create meaningful goals for the entire central U.P.