The Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC), situated in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, retained the services of Explorer Solutions to produce an economic development planning strategy and action plan to attract firms consequently, generate jobs. This strategy studied the current infrastructure and performed a market assessment to provide a competitive positioning to the Chippewa County Air and Industrial Park (over 2000 acres including Chippewa County International Airport (KCIU)). In addition to these analyses, our firm also provided a series of recommendations to strengthen the county’s position with targeted businesses for business investment attraction to the county and its Air and Industrial Park. The study provided detailed options identifying key areas of infrastructure investment to support investment attraction.
This project tied directly into recent efforts between the Chippewa County EDC and the City of Sault Ste. Marie EDC (Ontario) expands the existing Foreign Trade Zone to encompass all of Chippewa County and supports talks with the Sault-Ste-Marie Economic Development Corporation on developing a bi-national trade zone.
The strategy included secondary research, large-scale consultations (comprised of focus groups and one-on-one meetings), a regional economic profile with industry sector analysis and a competitive advantage review, best practice comparisons, benchmarking, and cluster feasibility analysis and the development of the Strategic plan.
The complete plan outlined the requirements and steps to facilitate strategic positioning to attract investment, develop an Entrepreneurship program to grow local manufacturing, focus on key targeted industry sectors, building and infrastructure requirements, and airport development.