Ports from San Diego to Escanaba Have Economic Value (Cluster Theory Development)

Boats are beautiful and if you spend enough time on the water you begin to see the beauty of living on the coasts whether that a Great Lakes coast or the Pacific Coast (btw you can actually surf both). Thinking about Escanaba and San Diego I realize there are significant economic benefits to being on the water that could possibly be transported to other places.

The world needs to move products and they need ships to move them (..also roads, rail, T1 lines, etc.). The U.S. has struggled to increase ship building and need to think of new ways to maximize opportunities. At the same time it must also think about improving the way in which people live their lives and the overall health of communities (It is possible to connect quality of life and economic growth in resilient cluster development).

Escanaba

I then came across the following report about the economic benefits of San Diego ports and started thinking a little about my home town Escanaba (...with really good people.) and whether they could benefit. Ports in alignment with the town's history might provide some of those opportunities that keep people here instead of having them move away for jobs.

(It would be interesting if you could partner some of the businesses between San Diego and investment in local business start ups in Escanaba to create a new cluster that helps further both's interests. Heck even a direct flight would be nice with about 5 hours flight time. We can dream!  or in this case theorize. 💨 Keep in mind that everything in this article and blog is more or less just theoretical discussions of "what ifs". It is interesting to think about.).  

Let us continue the discussion,....

The economic benefits of San Diego ports include 41% economic increase 2019 to 2023   San Diego Port Generates $14 Billion. Local ports helped weather COVID downturns and much more. That resilience mixed with a diversified cluster could help shield a community like Escanaba from various market up and down swings. One would expect the benefits to get more robust. The economic sectors include,

Tourism & Commercial Industry(40%)
Industrial & Wholesale Industry (23%)
Maritime Trade & Cargo Handling (32%)
Cruise Industry (1%)

You will notice the improved infrastructure and logistics of ports in the study below. One in Escanaba would likely have a significant impact on wages and tax revenue but also on the economic health of the UP and part of Wisconsin. That is dependent on size and nature. (Within the study they have some interesting charts and graphs.) The Impact of Ports and Logistics

Thoughts about investing in a port in Escanaba has been going on for a long time. It was once an important port town with fisheries and there was various efforts to rekindle. Times have changed and there are significant pressures on why it could possibly work. You may be further interested in some 2018 Escanaba Port Plans . Some plans have been in the works for a long time and there has been a discussion as a distribution area since 2004. Federal Reserve Bank Escanaba Shipping Hub 2004.

(One might think about how a lucrative port might also improve the health of local fish and related clusterable industries. I would totally love to see more stocking of fish to support tourism and the redevelopment of commercial fish stock that have disappeared from the area.. As an example small % of profit put back into ecological health, research and fish stocks perceptual development. I would love to see our local Native American populations and small fishing vessels from Escanaba earn a living from lakes again. If operations and permits are kept small the wealth could be more dispersed locally to support families. The benefits reach beyond another revenue source to retention and the deals that are made on the water, in the taverns and over a great locally caught meal. Related in part to a transactional rapid innovation cluster theory. Commercial Fishing Great Lakes History)

There are other things to think about in terms of exploring locally made products, training and hiring locals (...and some younger families that bring kids), increasing tax revenues, encouraging investment in infrastructure, and maximizing education and quality of life. If there is an increase in local/regional industry development, bumps in tourism, investment in beautification, and improvement in downtown entrepreneurship then there could be some interesting outcomes. 

*Side note: This is more about theory development and possibilities of "what ifs" but if there is the will there is the way. Its just an idea to be consumed or rejected.   I'm just sort of bored so I do theory development for fun.