CREATIVE CITY NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER 2001

ISSUE 4: GROWTH

ISSUE IN FOCUS: Smart Growth
NEWS YOU CAN USE: The Bohemian Index
CREATIVE CORNER: Slow Cities
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Marquette County, MI
September 11: Creative City Participants Respond
Research and Public Policy Outline
Creative City Participants' Updated Agendas


COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: MARQUETTE COUNTY, MI

The terrible events of this Fall have done much in the way of shocking us into a period of re-evaluation. The question circulating in everyone's mind these days is "what's REALLY important in our lives?" The response has been a drive to rekindle America's social capital…to refocus on living in closer-knit, friendly and ultimately, SAFE communities. I was charged with the tasking of researching Marquette County, Michigan on the southern coast of Lake Superior, and found myself absolutely charmed. Yes, the pace is slower in Marquette County but not lacking in sophistication. The residents have successfully managed to maintain their small, welcoming communities while advancing technology infrastructure and developing new cultural opportunities for its residents.

Marquette County's motto is "Come discover how civilized our wilderness can be." It got me thinking about Marquette's potential for supporting new industry, particularly high-tech or bio-tech industries. Feature this: Marquette County has several local universities with excellent programs in technology and science. In fact, Northern Michigan University's tuition includes a ThinkPad laptop computer. The savvy entrepreneur can seek partnerships with local institutions to provide career opportunities for their graduates. Bio-Resources, Inc. and Pioneer Surgical Laboratories have both expanded their operations to Marquette County during the past year, complimenting newly developed programs at Northern Michigan University. Why Marquette County? The answer may lie in Marquette's Renaissance Zoning laws. Renaissance Zones waive several local and state taxes in an effort to spur regional development. Marquette County has low property rates, low utility costs, access to a regional airport, and two major airports (Detroit and Minneapolis).

Marquette County has some wonderfully fun cultural opportunities, too. The Lake Superior Theatre is a converted boathouse situated between the Marquette lighthouse and the Lower Harbor of L. Superior. Performances begin at sundown. The Superior View Photography gallery has the largest private collection of historic images and old photos from the Upper Peninsula. The Pine Mountain Music Festival produces fully staged professional opera with orchestra and projected English titles. The festival also includes symphony and chamber music as well as folk and jazz, performed by musicians from all over the country. The Pere Marquette Historical Society, collecting and disseminating information about the Pere Marquette Railroad founded in 1900, is popular with both railroad fans and history buffs. Through creative youth empowerment, the Upper Peninsula's Children's Museum is able to offer cultural and educational exhibits that reflect the diverse interests, history, culture and heritage of the families of the rural Upper Peninsula. A the museum, children learn about-and can play with- how to harvest and apple tree or what it like to work in a airport control tower. Finally, I learned that the 1959 movie, "Anatomy of a Murder" was filmed at the Marquette City Court House.

Even more, Marquette County is a cluster of neighboring communities separated by pines, whitewater rivers, quaint streams and most importantly, unspoiled wilderness. The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, are visible anywhere in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where Marquette County is located. Residents and tourists participate in a number of seasonal activities: sailing, sea kayaking, scuba diving (L. Superior is almost 32,000 square miles), as well as alpine and cross-country skiing. Marquette is home to the Upper Peninsula 200 Sled Dog Championship that draws as many spectators as participants. Marquette was voted one of America's Five Best Mountain Biking Towns from Bike Magazine. Marquette County hosts two extremely popular biking events, the Marquette Mountain Chase and Michigan's largest, Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic. It's home to every sort of trail. …And like the TV show "Northern Exposure," it's not unheard of to see moose sauntering down Main Street.

A simple rendering of Marquette County's attractions doesn't convey the charm of this place. With the reasonable cost of living, beautiful Lake Superior and cosmopolitan yet "small town" nature of its residents, Marquette County is an undiscovered gem for both, entrepreneurs and those seeking to escape the rat race. The verdict? Marquette is not only a wonderful place to visit, but an ideal place to live.

By Kimberly Niebauer for Partners for Livable Communities