Manufacturing Rises in January 2026 (Mariam Thinks of Investing in Escanaba-Possible Supply Chain Benefits)

(Illustrative Only)
Mariam invented and designed
a new product that helps
move equipment around a
shop floor. It is in high
demand and she is considering
scaling up production
and needs a new facility.
She is thinking of
moving to a place 
like Escanaba where
the land is cheaper, labor
is skilled, local government
works with poeple and
shipping infrastructure and
transportation strong
(Rail, road, air, port and data.).
 Infrastructure can reduce
cost.

Enhancing Entrepreneurial Clusters

Supply Chain Integration

Manufacturing remains a vital pillar of the U.S. economy, so any improvement in production and export capacity is encouraging. Although the job market has shifted more toward services in recent employment metrics, the recent uptick in manufacturing activity is a noteworthy development. Ideally, increased production will translate into stronger exports and contribute positively to the trade balance, though that will depend on trends in the months ahead.

Maintaining a strong central position within the global supply chain is essential for long-term economic competitiveness, as this is where significant value is generated. While services add important complementary value, manufacturing creates the foundational products that drive both domestic demand and service-sector activity. 

The highlights below summarize key points from the latest report, which you can review for a more detailed understanding.

Manufacturing PMI® at 52.6%; January 2026 ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report

• Manufacturing PMI at 52.6% in January 2026 — up from 47.9 in December, indicating the sector expanded after months of contraction.

• First expansion in manufacturing in 12 months after 26 consecutive months below 50.

• Overall U.S. economy continued expanding, with January marking the 15th straight month of growth.

• New Orders Index jumped to 57.1%, the highest since early 2022, signaling stronger demand.

• Production Index climbed to 55.9%, also at its highest level since early 2022.

• Backlog of Orders Index rose to 51.6%, showing more unfinished orders.

• Prices Index at 59.0%, reflecting continued increases in input costs.

• Employment Index at 48.1%, still below 50, meaning manufacturing employment remains in contraction but improved.

• Inventories and Customers’ Inventories remained in contraction, with customer inventories “too low,” which can prompt future orders.

• The PMI reading suggests roughly 1.7% annualized GDP growth based on historical PMI–GDP relationships. 

Escanaba Investment Information Information:

Some information on Escanaba that might help. 

The city has secured more than $100 million in recent infrastructure investments and is seeing a “small business renaissance,” with 15–20 new businesses opening.

Redevelopment & Housing: Efforts are underway to convert vacant properties into mixed-use, commercial, or residential developments, supported in part by state programs like the Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grant. Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program.

Industrial Incentives: To encourage growth, the city provides Industrial Facilities Tax Exemptions (IFE) for manufacturing, renovation, and expansion projects, particularly within designated Industrial Development Districts (IDD). The City provides Industrial Facilities Tax Exemptions (IFE)

The Benefits of Clearing the Clutter in the Office and Home

(Illustrative)
Cleaning the clutter.

Clutter makes things harder to manage and slows you down. In a business, a messy workshop or office can drag down productivity. At home, the same problem applies—too much stuff creates distraction and stress. That’s why it’s helpful to declutter your environment from time to time, whether it’s your living space, your workplace, or your business operations.

Since I work from home, clutter builds up quickly. Lately, I’ve been getting rid of anything I don’t use—shirts that don’t fit, old sporting equipment, and random items with no real purpose. As I clear things out, my space feels more open, cleaner, and easier to think in. It’s surprising how much mental clarity comes from physical organization.

If you have a wardrobe or storage area, decluttering gives you a chance to toss outdated items and refresh what you actually need. In a consumer culture, it’s easy to accumulate things we barely use. Removing the excess improves the look of your space, boosts your efficiency, and supports better focus on the tasks that matter.

The same applies to your office. Removing unnecessary items helps keep your actions purposeful. You know where things are, you know what needs to be done, and your environment presents a much stronger sense of professionalism.

An article on the topic,

Clean Your Office or Productivity

Why Shared Values Matter More Than Ever

(Illustrative Only).

These are members of the hypothetical
Feather Party reaffirming
their commitment to the Constitution, 
three independent legs of government,
and serving the people by
upholding social contracts. 
They have concerns they may
go on a list somewhere
for believing in certain
self-evident truths or thiinking
independently from current dynamics..
 However, they believe it is important
to serve people and help their country.
The Constitution

Just in case you wanted to 
know what a Social contract was
What is a Social Contract?(Article)

*The hypothetical Feather Party
is philosophical discussion
on coordinating independents
and doesn't exist at this time.
It is an exploration of the
potential impact of a third party.
 The learning party doesn't 
work with special interests, 
caps donations, and 
doesn't allow straight
party votes. They want
each person to vote their
conscious through
an agreed upon decision making
matrix. Would it work?

It’s important to learn how to build systems that work well for everyone. Societies depend on shared values and rights that protect all people equally. The hypothetical story of the Clan is meant to teach how things can go wrong when those values are ignored or not of importance. We can learn to better support our systems by bringing in new perspectives and ideas outside of the two party system that often vets those ideas.

In the story, a minority family was targeted so others could benefit from them. What was taken from them wasn’t just material—it could affect their family for generations. Some of the people involved even worked with a few court officials they knew professionally and socially to protect themselves and enrich their friends. Those they disageed with, challenged wrongdoing or blew the whistle were not safe from the harm, and corrections were slow or nonexistent.

Some who took part also committed other wrongdoings in other incidents and were given easy deals to hide the bigger issues. The main lesson isn’t about the Clan itself but about the failure of oversight and the lack of values that allowed misconduct to continue. When hate and corruption take over, even basic rights and constitutional protections can be ignored. In theory. Remember its a philosophical example.

Let us explore a more modern example, questions about Epstein’s island. Many documents appeared, people asked questions, and investigations closed. Some think foreign influence may have been involved on the island. Maybe it’s true, maybe not. Without independent investigation (free from party influences of either side), we may never know. This doesn’t mean everyone, or anyone, who knew the couple or visited the island did something wrong, but the risk of intentional manipulation to visitors has a reasonable possibility (Agree or disagree? That is your choice).

Even with these concerns, many good people and officials act with honesty every day. They deserve our respect and support. Strong checks and balances, training, diverse recruitment, and community trust help keep institutions healthy. Yes, there is bad in the world, but there is a lot of good too.

So what do we do? We elect leaders with strong values—people who care deeply about their country, their oaths, and the common good. Will real change happen? Maybe. Is it needed? That is up to you. Time will tell. No matter how one decides we must stay hopeful and trust that the next generation will continue the work and avoid the mistakes we made. Hope is essential.

Your patriotic job is to be a good person: support what is right, value integrity over partisanship, respect others, strengthen your community, share your independent thoughts and pass on good values to your children. When values disappear, history shows that societies can fall off track. They sometimes never find the path again so be careful with your votes and your time.

Be your best self version. Think carefully about what you believe. Support the people and principles that move us forward. You are part of a national family—help yourself, help your neighbors, and work for a better future. Most o all vote your conscience and be informed enough to cast that vote wisely. Vote like your children’s and grandchildren’s futures depend on it—because they might.

*This is a philosphical discussion so take with a grain of salt, rearrange the elements, and come to your own conclusion. There is no right or wrong as long as you have thought about it yourself and came to your own conclusion. 

Firefighting Drags and Carries (Firefighting Video)

Volunteer firefighting is a true donation of time and effort to the community. The men and women who do this type of work foster and contribute to a better society. Because of that commitment, ongoing training is essential. One useful way to train is by watching instructional videos—especially when you already have enough hands-on experience to visualize how each technique translates into real-life situations.

What stood out in this particular video is the simplicity and practicality of the methods shown. The webbing pieces they use are common, and the way they assemble both harnesses and body straps to carry a person is straightforward and effective. After watching the process a few times, you realize how quickly these tools can be made in the moment, even under pressure. Many firefighters already carry webbing and a carabiner, so they typically have the basic gear needed to create these setups.

I also appreciated the demonstration of using a Halligan as a step to climb into a window. By tying webbing to the tool and pulling it tight, it becomes a secure foothold—and the equipment can then be pulled up with it. It’s a clever, practical solution that shows how versatile standard tools can be.

If You Want to Donate

If you're interested in supporting an outstanding Upper Peninsula firefighting department and team, feel free to contact me to the right and I can connect you with the right people. Donations would be tax-deductible. This department is noteworthy for bucking national trends: it has a remarkably strong group of young volunteers—far more than most fire departments. Their success might offer a valuable model for any other department wondering how to engage and involve younger generations in community service. Most departments are struggling in this regard. 

The Unemployment Rate December 2025 (Zak Thinks of Ways To Hedge Technology and Participation for Shipbuilding))

(Illustrative Only)

Zak likes to build ships.
He has a crew of different
types of people and knows
how to increase employment
and participation. 
He hedges diversity, taps
natural motivation and 
trains. He understands
economics and knows his
workers are more than numbers
so he tries to stay engaged,
be a listening ear, attend their
kids bday parties and lets
employees determine 
where to donate 15% of
company profits to help
the people.

He wants to bring manufacturing 
back to our communities by
fostering entrepreneurship.
Believes most ideas are thrown
away because of partisanship
and special interests influence.
Change is needed as we have a use
for new ships but we struggle to
fundamentally adapt and 
improve competitiveness.
Midwest Manufacturing

He joined the hypothetical
Feather Party of free
minded thinkers who 
want a more direct
connection to the 
decisions in government. 
He thinks his model
could help boost 
GDP, raise wages, 
and maintain competitiveness
with new technology and a new
way of thinking. 
Sometimes people who bring new ideas
are often ripe for mistreatment. 
He doesn't care because
he wants to help his
nation and answers to
the needs of the people.
Freedom of thought is
fundamental to our futures.
Economic Development
Through Needs Fulfillment

*the hypthetical Feather Party
does not exist at this time in history.
It is a philosophical discussion
on collecting independent 
thinkers for political service,
not working with special interests,
using agreed upon decision making
matrix and capping donations
to improve decision making at 
the top for the next generation
through the use of critical 
thinking, evidence, ethics and
upholding social contracts.
They seek to tip votes and 
bring new options. It is not against
but for.

The December 2025 employment report indicates a relatively stable labor market. There isn’t much new hiring, but there also aren’t major layoffs, which suggests a steady—though not strong—environment. Hours worked declined slightly, while wages increased slightly, both of which are notable trends.

Going forward, it’s important to watch which industries are expanding and which are contracting. Services remain essential, but growth in manufacturing and new product development would be a positive sign, as those sectors contribute to innovation and value creation. Different types of service growth can also reveal deeper market shifts, since industries with higher profitability—such as healthcare and elder care—tend to attract more workers and investment. Time and trend will determine if it is short or long lived.

The labor force participation rate is another key indicator. A higher rate means more people are working, which strengthens economic performance. Ideally, technology would support an increase in the number of workers involved in the economy, even if hours per worker fall. This becomes especially important as the overall population declines, since participation and GDP growth are closely connected.

It would also be beneficial to see increased participation among populations traditionally considered minorities. That represents untapped human capital, and greater engagement would bring new perspectives, stronger performance, higher tax contributions, and overall economic growth.

These areas—industry shifts, participation rates, and broader inclusion—represent some of the main challenges and opportunities moving forward.

BEA The Employment Situation December 2025

• Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by about 50,000 in December 2025, showing modest job growth.

• The unemployment rate remained at 4.4 percent with little change from the previous month.

• Job gains were concentrated in food services, health care, and social assistance, while retail trade lost jobs.

• For all of 2025, employment rose by 584,000 jobs, averaging 49,000 per month—slower than in 2024.

• Average hourly earnings continued to rise, reflecting ongoing wage growth.

• Employment figures from previous months were revised downward.

• A federal government shutdown caused missing household survey data for October 2025, affecting some comparisons.

• Labor force participation rate: 62.4%.

• Unemployment rates by race/ethnicity: White 3.5%, Black or African American 6.7%, Hispanic or Latino 5.2%, Asian 3.8%.

How It’s Calculated (U.S. Standard)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates the unemployment rate as:
(Number of unemployed people ÷ civilian labor force) × 100

Additional Link:

Unemployment Trading Economics Site

The Rocky Pier Picture

 If your interested in this picture send me a message to the right. Send me a message to the right. Let me know what your range is and what I can print for you. Since I do this for fun I will work with you to get you what you want.  I can call this one the Rocky Pier. Taken a few weeks ago on a nice sunny day. 

Rocky Pier

The Mystery of Mueller's Delicious Pizza Cheese (Word on the Street Escanaba)

(Illustrative Only)
Tony loves Muellers Pizza
and ran off with a piece 
to see why it tastes so good.
He paid his bill and asked
 for a doggy bag and 
put a slice in it, and shoved
it in his jacket hopeing no
one would see him. He
barely escaped without
being detected by
acting normal. 🙃
 

Tony had an unusual fascination with Mueller’s Pizza. No matter where he traveled—Paris, Rome, Toledo—the moment he rolled into town, he sprinted to Mueller’s like a man who hadn’t eaten in weeks. He’d sit down, take one bite of that glorious cheese, and immediately wonder why it tasted better than every pizza he’d ever had, including the fancy ones with ingredients he couldn’t pronounce.

(This story is more for fun but the actual story 'Word on the Street' section is labeled below. This story is inspired from the actual.)

Determined to solve the mystery, Tony launched a full-scale investigation. He tried cheese spectroscopy, cheese DNA testing, cheese genealogy—basically everything but hiring a private detective in a mozzarella-colored trench coat. Nothing worked.

Then one day, a tiny old lady who’d lived in town since dinosaurs roamed the Earth whispered a clue. The cheese, she said, came from special Wisconsin cows—legendary cows—raised by a man she once knew, who crafted cheese so good it could make a statue shed a tear. She even told Tony where to look.

So Tony packed up his dog sled—because why not its winter—and mushed his way to Wisconsin. He interrogated cheese factories across the state. Most of them shrugged. A few offered brochures. One tried to sell him curds in bulk for his trip home.

At last, he stumbled upon a small artisan cheese maker. A true cheese wizard. A shaman and wise man of cutting the cheese. A man who understood flavor, texture, and the emotional journey of dairy. He told Tony, “This isn’t just one cheese. This… is three cheeses. Slow cooked. Blended like a symphony. And made only for them.”

Tony begged. He pleaded. He tried every tactic short of bribing him with breadsticks. But the craftsman refused to reveal the recipe. And so Tony returned home defeated, his quest unfulfilled.

But he learned something along the way: Mueller’s pizza is one of a kind. That’s why it’s a beloved icon of Escanaba. So if you ever find yourself in town, stop by Mueller’s. The staff is friendly, the cheese is ridiculously unique, and great memories put the whole place together (I used to work there doing delivery as a teen).

Word on the Street: Word on the street is that someone wanted to discover why Mueller's cheese was so delicious. They saw a cheese label, went to Wisconsin, and traced the cheese back to its source. There, they found that the cheese was a slow-cooked, flavorful multi-Wisconsin cheese made just or them—and that’s what gives it its unique taste. (Could be true or untrue but that is the basic story.)

*A few people were standing around talking about the delicious unique taste of Muellers Pizza and we thought it would be an interesting idea to share Escanaba unwritten stories. Write the true story in 'Word on the Street" and then make a fun narrative. It might help some of our local businesses as well gain exposure for some of the local legends history that doesn't make it into the books. Muellers is a local icon and many people have good memories there. If you have an interesting possibly true legend you heard from a few different people about Escanaba send me a message to the right.  Al Capone up next...