2020: Aligning Resources to Expand Broadband & Its Benefits in Rural Michigan

Authors: Mitchell Shapiro

Following up on his REI co-learning plan examining issues and strategies related to the potential for rural electric cooperatives (RECs) to help bridge the digital divide, Mitchell’s Innovation Fellowship will focus on aligning a broad range of stakeholder resources to more effectively...

2019: Electric Cooperatives and the Digital Divide: Helping Connect Rural Americans to 21st Century Opportunity

Authors: Mitchell Shapiro, Independent Consultant

The task of bringing high speed Internet to America's rural communities remains a challenging and painfully unfinished one, aggravating the existing economic and social divides these communities face. To help address this challenge, certain rural energy cooperatives (RECs)—including...

2018: Network and Digital Media Strategies for Community Development Efforts: A Case Study of The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission

Authors: Laleah Fernandez, Michigan State University

This project will focus on a digital media strategy for The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission (SWMPC) to improve awareness, consensus building and action, related to current topics of policy importance for economic development. In particular, this project will include a network analysis to...

2016: Exploring the Use of Virtual Human Resource Services to Improve Farm Profitability

Authors: Kristine Ranger, The Learning Connection

Progressive farm managers often find themselves managing people as much or more than they manage animals and equipment. This dramatic change for farm owner/managers is very challenging because most have little experience and no education in the management of critical human resources. Rural...

2014: Upper Peninsula Economic Development Data Collection and Marketing Project

Authors: Jennifer James-Mesloh, Northern Michigan University

This economic development data collection and marketing project stemmed from the collective focus of two organizations, LSCP and UPCDC, which determined that business attraction and marketing were needed for the 15 Upper Peninsula (U.P.) counties. Business attraction and marketing are capital and...

2012: The WebPolis Consortium

Authors: Norman Tyler, Institute for Geospatial Research and Education, Eastern Michigan University

A varied array of local economic development policies and programs are available to local Michigan communities, but local leaders can be confused about how they can be utilized in their own community. One way to solve for this was through use of online resources.  A suite of online...

2012: On-Site Technology Training for Small, Rural Michigan Businesses

Authors: Eric Frederick, Connect Michigan; Elizabeth Riesser, Connected Nation

Connect Michigan has been leading the way to bring the economic and quality of life benefits of broadband to all Michigan residents. This report explored the opportunity for hands-on, on-site technology training for Michigan small businesses and suggests a model for local...