Discovering and applying new and innovative economic development tools, models, policies, and programs
Creating Jobs and Wealth in Distressed Michigan Communities
Authors: Melissa Davis
This Co-Learning Plan project seeks to reverse the habitual outsourcing of dollars back to the main streets of Houghton and Keweenaw counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where many locally-owned businesses have gradually shuttered throughout the last five decades. It proposes to introduce people to crowd-capitalization, build infrastructure for large community conversations, and use knowledge gained to establish a local Diversified Community Investment Fund.
Melissa Davis is managing director of a 501(c)(3) located in Hancock, MI. The nonprofit, New Power Tour, Inc. (NPT) was established in 2006, defining its mission to increase the use of renewable, water and energy efficient technologies. Its daily activity serves income-qualified Copper Country residents by replacing their failing HVAC and water heating equipment with new, energy efficient models.