Blue Meets Green Community Collaboration Continues with Phase VI Rollout

May 18, 2021

Phase VI priorities established to support regional growth & success

Since 2010, a group of passionate community leaders and stakeholders have gathered every two years to pitch and choose projects focused around key areas that will support our region’s growth and success.  The Blue Meets Green initiative born from a countywide Economic Development Strategic Plan, has since produced many positive results for St. Clair County.  The strategic plan laid the foundation to create more opportunity for the region by addressing its three core values: People, Place and Prosperity. 

The committee recently held the 2021 Blue Meets Green Planning retreat virtually due to COVID-19, and through electronic voting, established its new Phase VI priorities listed below:

1. Marine City Marina – Marine City, Michigan is a destination place for thousands of tourists every year.  However, Marine City is bypassed by boaters due to the lack of boat docking, fuel, shore power and boating amenities.  The Marine City Marina project would add another safe harbor for boaters.
    
2. Countywide Broadband Strategic Plan – This effort will support the development of a countywide broadband strategic action plan. The plan would serve as a roadmap to establish the infrastructure needed to push broadband forward in St. Clair County.       
    
3. Expanded Training / Workforce Training - The workforce training facilities at St. Clair County Community College and RESA require expansion. This would allow for new or expanded programs, equipment, and the capacity to increase student enrollment. The goal is to increase the number of people with credentials including degrees, advanced degrees, certifications or completed apprenticeships.
    
4. COVID-19 Vaccine Planning – The COVID-19 vaccine distribution process / community vaccination initiatives will not be successful without the robust support and participation by our entire business community and community leadership. COVID-19 vaccines are a pathway to ending this pandemic.There has never been a vaccination project that has required this type of coordination, communications and surveillance. There is no vaccination project that will have the same level of impact on the economy, education, and quality of life.
    
5. Increasing Child Care Options - Prior to the pandemic, many area residents were struggling with finding available child care options. This issue has exploded since the pandemic. Without additional child care options, more St. Clair County residents will be forced to leave the workforce, creating an even tighter labor market for the county.

As in years past, the Blue Meets Green committee will collaborate and rally around the established priority projects to spur economic development in the Blue Water Region.  The effort is supported by leadership in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

“We are very proud of the progress that has been made on many of the projects in the previous phases,” said Hale Walker, co-chairman of Blue Meets Green’s Leadership Council.  “We continue to work hard to make our community a place where people want to live, visit and do business.”

The mission of Blue Meets Green is to develop the Blue Water Region into a prosperous, sustainable economic environment through the united effort and commitment of the private, nonprofit and public sectors.  Focus areas include bolstering downtowns and neighborhoods, expanding entrepreneurial resources, tourism, waterfront development, workforce development, healthy communities, and ensuring that prosperity is distributed equitably.

To learn more about Blue Meets green, please visit www.bluemeetsgreen.org.

WPHM Interview with Leadership Council members about Blue Meets Green past and current initiatives (listen here)

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