CLICK TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WITH PHIL BRITTON, ORIAN FACILITATOR
The Outdoor Recreation Innovation Action Network (ORIAN) today announced the membership of its committee, which includes individuals from multiple sectors encompassing public and private organizations across the central Upper Peninsula.
This undertaking, which will transform the outdoor recreation industry in the central Upper Peninsula and beyond, is possible due to a $320,000 grant from the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA). ORIAN will focus on helping the region adapt and diversify from its former reliance on coal industry jobs and develop a strategic framework for the growth of the outdoor recreation industry.
ORIAN is a public-private outdoor recreation industry collaborative, created through the EDA grant, that will act as a resource and guide for strategic planning and subsequent implementation of an Outdoor Recreation Industry Growth Strategy. It will also develop an outdoor recreation business database to support region-wide communication, serve as a hub for data and information related to outdoor recreation, provide business-to-business support, and convene an annual outdoor recreation summit.
As part of this effort, the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development (CUPPAD) Regional Commission and Innovate Marquette SmartZone (Innovate Marquette) today issued a request for proposals supporting the development of a regional Outdoor Recreation Industry Growth Strategy.
“The Upper Peninsula is a boundless natural playground, whose beauty is going to serve as a spectacular economic driver for years to come,” said Joe Thiel, CEO of Innovate Marquette and ORIAN board chairman. “I am confident that the team we have assembled at ORIAN, in conjunction with a thoughtful partner, will develop an Outdoor Recreation Industry Growth Strategy that will enable us to harness our natural environment to create jobs and showcase our region to residents and visitors alike.”
Additional members of ORIAN include:
- Tom Carpenter, Director of Generation and Engineering, Marquette Board of Light and Power
- Brigitte Lapointe, CEO, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
- Brēyana Ray, Director of the Rural Innovation Network, Center on Rural Innovation
- Bob Jacquart, CEO of Jacquart Fabric Products and Stormy Kromer
- Phil Britton, Chief Ruckus Maker, Fresh Systems, LLC
- Kathy Reynolds, CEO, Alger County Chamber of Commerce
- Victoria George, Executive Director, Schoolcraft Tourism & Commerce
- Stacy Welling-Haughey, Upper Peninsula Field Deputy, Michigan DNR
- Amy Bergland, Director of Business Initiatives, InvestUP
- David Nyberg, Executive Director of Business Engagement and Economic Development, Northern Michigan University
- Nate Heffron, Negaunee City Manager
- Craig Cugini, Ishpeming City Manager
- Kathleen Henry, Special Projects Coordinator, Superior Watershed Partnership
- Scott Jordan, Assistant Professor of Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management, NMU
- Bill Thompson, Owner, Down Wind Sports
- Mary Myers, Director of Business Development, Lake Superior Community Partnership
- Rachel Raak, Community Economic and Development Coordinator, Lake Superior Community Partnership
- Bob Hendrickson, Administrator, Iron Ore Heritage Trail
- Julie Shaw, Executive Director, Upper Peninsula Superior Alliance for Independent Living
- Debb Brunnell, CEO, Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!
- Lori Hauswirth, Executive Director, Noquemanon Trails Network
- Vaughn Rodriguez, Marketing Coordinator, Innovate Marquette SmartZone
The outdoor recreation industry brought $12.4 billion in value-added economic impact to Michigan in 2022, and the sector currently has 120,000 jobs in a wide range of occupations. Snow activity, a major industry in the Upper Peninsula, has increased employment by 88% in the last three years alone.
The ORIAN board may add additional members throughout the duration of the initiative, based on project scope and priorities.
Outdoor Recreation Industry Growth Strategy Request for Proposals
CUPPAD and Innovate Marquette launched a request for proposals for a regional Outdoor Recreation Industry Growth Strategy, a project that ORIAN will serve as the steering committee for.
The organizations are looking for a planning or economic development consulting firm to:
- Conduct a series of virtual and in-person engagement meetings
- Study the region and its assets
- Engage collaboratively with ORIAN, which will also assemble an inventory of assets
- Work toward building a comprehensive strategy focused on the specific actions public leaders can undertake to support outdoor recreation business growth which will spur innovation technologies and electrified product development
Proposals should demonstrate knowledge of the Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan (which includes Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties), economic development expertise, strong connections to outdoor innovation, broad familiarity with electric vehicle charging infrastructure and outdoor recreation mobility. They should also address how they plan to incorporate guiding principles, such as environmental stewardship, cultural sustainability and multi-modal connectivity into the formation of the plan.
“It’s important that whoever is selected to lead the Outdoor Recreation Industry Growth Strategy development understands that they’re not just partnering with CUPPAD, Innovate Marquette and ORIAN, but also the land, water and wildlife that call the central UP home.” said Phil Britton, Chief Ruckus Maker for Fresh Systems, LLC. “Outdoor recreation impacts all of our lives here in many ways, and we’re looking for someone who can build on the existing energy and efforts across multiple industries and public and private organizations to create a comprehensive strategy for our region.”
A final presentation of the Outdoor Recreation Industry and Growth Strategy will be given to regional stakeholders at an Outdoor Recreation Summit expected in late spring of 2025.
The EDA grant which will support this undertaking was through the agency’s Economic Adjustment Assistance Program, which supports communities “experiencing adverse economic changes that may occur suddenly or over time.” CUPPAD and Innovate Marquette, in their application, highlighted the job losses related to the closure of the Presque Isle Power Plant and the economic potential of outdoor recreation as a growth strategy.
“Our natural environment is a treasured resource that represents the future of our economy, and our region is all-in on figuring out the best way to thoughtfully and sustainably promote it to the world,” said Ryan Soucy, senior economic development and community planner for CUPPAD. “Alongside Innovate Marquette, ORIAN and a growth strategy partner, we are confident that we will develop innovative solutions that will allow us to preserve employment and design a better future for our region.”
CUPPAD is the EDA’s designated Economic Development District for the central upper peninsula’s six-county region. As part of that role, CUPPAD maintains a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), which describes general priorities and development projects of the region and is one factor in enabling local partners to be eligible for federal funding.
To learn more, as well as see the request for proposal, please visit https://innovatemarquette.org/orian/.
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