State of the Community Luncheon
"The new economy is here, embrace it," was the closing comment at the third annual State of the Community Luncheon hosted by the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce on February 8. The comment was made by Andy Hayes, President of the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA), who spoke about the State of the Economy to an audience of more than 140 area business leaders at Stafford's Perry Hotel. Joining Hayes at the podium were Mayor Dale Meyer who spoke about the State of the City, Chairman Frank Ettawageshik who spoke about the State of the Tribe, and Dr. Louis Cannon who spoke about the State of Health Care.
State of the Economy
In speaking of the new economy, Hayes described it as an "Entrepreneurial Economy" that can change and adapt, and must change and adapt. To help foster growth in this economic arena, the NLEA has developed an Entrepreneurial Division that is headed by its newest staff member, Lori Meeder. Elements of the division include increased partnerships with area chambers of commerce, helping communities become more entrepreneur-friendly, a business incubator network, and enhanced business counseling.
Hayes also took time to look at various facets of our local economy in what he called "Andy's Basic Indicators," or the ABI. Positive trends on the ABI include population growth, per-capita income, property values, and tourism. Unemployment rates and building permits are trending in the wrong direction according to Hayes.
He also noted that local agriculture is seeing some positive opportunities through local farm markets. He said a survey conducted during one Farmer's Market in Downtown Petoskey last summer showed that 1,400 people came specifically to the market and spent collectively around $13,000 with the local growers. These shoppers also spent another $14,000 at other downtown businesses.
State of the City
Mayor Dale Meyer joked that he had the unglamorous task of speaking about "curbs and sewers" as he gave his State of the City address, but hit address included much more. Meyer updated the audience on parks, public safety, public works, and the library.
Meyer said the city's Millage rate is lower than other northern Michigan communities of comparable size. He says that's largely attributed to a steadily increasing State Equalized Value of property in the city limits and Bay Harbor. That taxable value is now more than $525 million.
Because of the revenue created by the strong property values, the City of Petoskey is able to offer some first-rae amenities for its citizens. Those amenities include 24 park sites that encompass 1,500 acres and include 8,000 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan. The city also enjoys a Class 5 Fire Rating, a great value for local insurance rates. He says the city fire department has nine vehicles and the police department has eight patrol vehicles. The city maintains 32-miles of streets, 25-miles of sidewalks, a large-capacity waste water treatment facility, and equipment for the electric department. Lastly, the Petoskey Public Library is wholly owned by the city and contains more than 70,000 volumes.
Meyer related the city's work to sands in an hour glass. "At the top of the hour glass, we're full of ideas and projects that have to work their way down to the middle of the glass before coming out completed at the bottom." He boasted about the completion of the Bay Front Park projec which saw its final work in 2006. That project started in 1981.
Future plans noted by Meyer include the addition of around 40-slips to the marina, the completion of the Wheelway Bike Trail, the development of a trail system through the Bear River Valley, the boulevard project along Mitchell Street, acquisition of the railroad right of way, and the incorporation of the library to a district library.
State of the Tribe
Frank Ettawageshik is Chairman of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and he offered a State of the Tribe message that stressed the importance of working together with friends and neighbors in the community, as well as with other units of government, and other tribes.
"Our elders ask us to think about our actions of today and how they will impact the next seven generations," Ettawageshik said. "What are we leaving for those coming generations?"
That's why a significant portion of the tribe's work is focused on education and culture, in fact Ettawageshik stressed that their contribution charges them to preserve culture and language. He took great pride in announcing that Harbor Springs High School now offers a for-credit class in the Odawa Language. He says the tribe is also assisting 275 students enrolled in certification or degree programs, and they're working on a series of videos that promote the history and culture of the tribe.
But their educational efforts went beyond the tribe in 2007 and extended into the community as the LTBB led the Big Read. The LTBB was the only tribe in the country to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to enhance literacy in their community by getting people to read, To Kill A Mockingbird.
Ettawageshik also stressed the tribe's work toward a cleaner environment. He personally is involved on boards dealing with Great Lakes preservation and local land conservation. They are also signers of a treaty of the United League of Indigenous Nations that includes more than 200 tribes worldwide committed to the preservation of the planet by addressing global warming, natural foods, and intellectual property.
Economically, the tribe completed a $143 million casino in 2007 that finished on time and within budget and is now meeting revenue expectations. Collectively the tribe and the casino are now the county's second largest employer with more than 1,000 people on its payroll. They also own the Biindigo Gas Station and Bell's Fishery, and are investigating alternative energy opportunities.
State of Health Care
Dr. Louis Cannon opened his comments about the State of Health Care lamenting about the outstanding quality of life the area offers. "But when it comes to medicine, Petoskey is not 'small town'," Cannon said. Dr. Cannon is the Program Director for the Northern Michigan Regional Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute and renowned around the country for his heart and vascular work.
Cannon noted that Petoskey receives referrals from health care institutionss throughout the region, and consults nationally on certain cases. "Our vision is to become one of just 16 facilities in the country that offers Therapeutic Ultrasound capabilities for determining the level of plaque build-up in blood vessels. He says we're also one of the few places in the country that offers the new Xience Stent, and we could be the only site in Michigan to be testing a new biodegradable stent.
Cannon also demonstrated the economic impact the hospital provides to the area, not just by being the country's largest employer, but by bringing in research and clinical specialists and drawing patients from a more than 20-county region. "Northern Michigan Regional Hospital has a huge committment to the community's health and also as the community's economic hub," Cannon stressed.
NMRH CEO Tom Mroczkowski introduced Dr. Cannon and lauded the quality team of doctors, nurses, technicians, and other personnel saying they are the reason for the hospital's success. He also was sure to point out the NMRH was named one of the 100-best companies by Working Mother Magazine.
The State of the Community Luncheon was chaired by Dan Ledingham of Edward Jones Investments and sponsored by Chase Bank . The event was hosted by the Healthy Economy Action Team, a committee of the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce.
To download a full copy of the State of the Community Reports, a publication presented at the luncheon, please click the link below.
To read individual reports, please click on the topics below
State of the Economy
Includes: State of the Chamber, State of Downtown Petoskey, State of the Local Economy, State of the Tourism Industry, State of Tourism, State of the Workforce, State of Real Estate, State of Manufacturing, State of Transportation, and State of the Airport
State of Education
Includes: State of North Central Michigan College, State of Petoskey Public Schools, State of the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District
State of the Environment
Includes: State of Water Quality, State of Land Conservation, State of Recycling
State of the Community
Includes: State of Northern Michigan Regional Hospital, State of Human Services, State of Culture, State of Emmet County, State of Bay Harbor, State of Bay View, State of Philanthropy
