Emma Marion
Editor-In-Chief

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On Mar. 20 John Austin, a Senior Fellow with the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College (among other notable titles), gave a speech at the Dennos Auditorium as a part of NMC’s International Affairs Forum, along with the executive director of United Tribes of Michigian, Frank Ettawageshik, and the director of the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute at NMC, John Lutchko.

 

Together, they described Michigan’s unique position to leverage the economic opportunities that the Great Lakes provide, building what they call a “Blue Economy.” As water technology becomes increasingly vital across the globe, Michigan could be the epicenter of freshwater innovation. From mapping the floor of the Great Lakes, creating renewable energy, water filtration technology, to even electric boats, NMC has already started to invest in this future with the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute and the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center.

 

However, the value of water goes beyond technology. “It's a fulcrum for local and economic development, and it's more than tourists. Its people want to live there year round and they can enjoy this multi-use water rich space,” said Austin, “Your mood just changes. Like that's why being on the water is so powerful. It is magic.”

 

He also believes that the value of freshwater is able to continue into colder climates and times of year. “There's this myth that, you know, colder climates like the north of the United States are losing economically or are destined to lose economically … But, you know, some of the most thriving global cities young people are flocking to are the Minneapolis’ and the Bostons,” Austin said.

 

“I view this place and like a place like Marquette, which has spiffed up what used to be in industrial downtown. They have parks, marinas, you can go snowshoeing, you can go cross country skiing in the winter, you can get out on the ice and see the ice things. That's all part of a fabric of just your round enjoyment of the place, which makes it a really attractive, and then dynamic place.”

 

Although the people of Northern Michigan are generally united in preserving the Great Lakes, Northern Michigan is politically mixed, with large numbers of people voting for Trump in the 2024 presidential election. The Republican Party in recent decades has become more opposed to environmentalism, which has created a unique paradox in the values of Northern Michigan.

 

“I mean, the culture of a community changes over time and you're experiencing it here. I mean, it used to be really, really red,” Austin said. According to the New York Times election map, the areas adjacent to and north of Traverse City voted more blue in the 2024 presidential election than in 2020, illustrating how this shift is potentially taking place.

 

“Grand Rapids used to be [a] rock conservative, Republican, part of Michigan, and it's still home to the Devos’ and very arch conservative people. But even those arch conservative people have worked to create a different community than it used to be, which is more attractive to young people and young professionals,” Austin added.

 

According to Austin it took “The business leadership, steelcase, [and] others saying ‘no, we are gonna be the greenest city because we know that's where the future is.
We're gonna set goals for reducing our carbon footprint, water use and getting people out of cars and onto buses.’ Those are the business civic leaders, which include a lot of conservatives … It also happens now young people aren't leaving Grand Rapids, they're staying or they're coming, you know, young people have a different outlook on life.”

 

Another major economic challenge facing Traverse City is the housing crisis. If institutions in Traverse City are betting on more people living year round over the coming decades, the lack of affordable housing could hinder their ability to grow. “The real key is just you gotta build more housing, and then the market will do it itself,” Austin said. 

 

“That's gotta be done purposely, like you have to say, ‘how do we make sure this nicely redeveloped place is for everybody?’ … It's really hard to do, because it's so easy, like, oh, that's so valuable, that property, you know, 
We're gonna build a condo for rich people to, you know, have the view,” he added.