The lakes and rivers of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet Counties shape our lives everyday. They support many of the pastimes that define the “up north” lifestyle, boating, fishing, kayaking, and more. Local bodies of water play an integral role in our daily lives and an integral role in our economy.

Michigan’s “Blue Economy” provides roughly 1 in 5, or nearly one million Michigan jobs, and $60 billion in annual economic impact for the citizens of our state. The term “blue economy” generally refers to all the economic activity related to our water: think legacy industries like transportation, ports, ferries, and commercial shipping; water intensive industries like agriculture, manufacturing, ski resorts, energy, and beverage manufacturing; and growing sustainability industries like water technology products and services, water research and innovation centers, and water placemaking.

Of the 3,759 square miles governed by Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet Counties, 44.8% of that area, or 1,684 square miles, is water. As if bridging Lake Michigan and Lake Huron isn’t enough, our area also contains four of Michigan’s largest inland lakes: Torch, Charlevoix, Burt, and Mullet Lakes. These bodies of water--in addition to our other lakes, rivers, and even aquifers--support our current economy and offer a path forward for our region. By supporting a transition towards a sustainable blue economy and fostering growth in emerging industries, Northern Lower Michigan can ensure a viable economic future for itself.

The NLEA estimates that an average of 1,700 people and 220 establishments are directly supported by the quantity and quality of our freshwater resources. The bulk of the jobs reported are centered around the pleasure boat industry, supported by marinas, boat dealers, and service providers. However, there are many other industries who employ people on our bodies of water such as the fishing sector (40 to 88 individuals), dock manufacturing and marine construction (238 to 299 individuals), ferries (298 and 361 individuals), and watercraft construction (14 to 24 individuals).

The number of jobs reliant on our water resources continues to grow as we examine industries that are not “water-based” but nevertheless rely on the quantity and quality of our water. Agriculture, Beverage Manufacturing, and Skiing are three prominent, water-intensive industries in Northern Lower Michigan.

The Beverage (and Tobacco) Manufacturing sector supported more than 192 employees and 15 establishments in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet Counties. Across the four counties, 28 establishments and more than 262 employees were involved in the Crop Production sector in 2020. Area ski resorts that spur winter tourism use immense amounts of water to cover their slopes in snow. These drivers of our economy employ small armies--Nub’s Nob employs over 100 people, Boyne Mountain employs around 750 people, Shanty Creek Resorts employs around 400 people--not to mention the jobs that they support in nearby hotels, sports shops, and restaurants.

As we expand our definition of the “blue economy” to include industries that are water-intensive or rely on tourists, the importance of the continued quantity and quality of our water resources grows further.

The Michigan Economic Center highlights three emerging blue economy sectors: Water Technology and Product Services; Water Education, Research, and Innovation Centers; and Water Placemaking. Our greatest potential is in water placemaking, which they define as, “...including the economic impact of water and waterfront restoration, access, and use; real estate and private development; new recreation and hospitality businesses; and the economic return from the message our communities send by being leaders in sustainability, sustainable water use, and a lifestyle with water enjoyment at its center – which can make Michigan a choice location to live, work and play.”

The NLEA Economic Symposium is coming May 13, 2022. One of the speakers on schedule is John Austin. He will share his extensive knowledge of the blue economy and how businesses and governments in our region can forge ahead in this emerging economy. Read his bio to see his impact on the state of Michigan throughout his career.

Along with Mr. Austin the Economic Symposium will feature an array of energizing speakers and breakout sessions all focused on strengthening the future of our region.

That's all for now, more details coming! You won't want to miss this.

This information was gathered by Sam Bailey, NLEA Strategic Initiatives Manager using 2015 research by the Anderson Economic Group and the Michigan Economic Center. Full article is available on our website. Click below to access the research report.

Hear from John Austin explaining a blue economy. It's not just about tourism or manufacturing computer processors, it's about something bigger.

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