Boyne City Chamber Executive Director Scott McKenzie was named the Northern Lakes Economic AllianceÕs Ômaniac of the yearÓ during their annual meeting March 16. Presenting the award is NLEA chair Brian Braddock. Photo by Larry See Jr.

"This award is given to a person who thinks and talks about economic development," NLEA chairman Brian Braddock said. "Every waking hour of the day this person deals with economic development and at times he wakes up in the middle of the night and jots notes to himself."

Eight finalists were identified for the first year award, Braddock said, but only one person could be selected for the title.

McKenzie is actively involved in the community and still finds time to promote the economic well-being of the community as well.

"IÕm sure that if you looked in the dictionary under the word maniac you will find a picture of McKenzie right there next to it,Ó"NLEA President Andy Hayes said.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation Vice President Jim Donaldson served as the keynote speaker for the event and addressed the positive and negative aspects of the stateÕs business climate.

"We all know these are challenging times in Michigan," Donaldson said. "Pfizer's closing was shock to us and we are still trying to recover from that in Ann Arbor. Another thing is the Big 3 in Detroit decline in market share and the budget crisis in Lansing as well as Comerica moving to Dallas."

On the plus side, Donaldson said Michigan was ranked third in the United States as a manufacturing location and sixth in the entire United States for an international business location, as well as the second in the Midwest.

"This includes economic development in Asia and Europe, where we have had some success over the past few years,Ó"he said.

Donaldson also touted the stateÕs strong university system, which has brought over $1 billion in research into the state, including the cyclotron facility and the business schools for the University of Michigan.

"There is a lot of world-class research going on,Ó"Donaldson said, Michigan is ranked fourth in the United States in patents.

"There is a lot of strengths that we are achieving but are not being recognized," he said. "There are companies investing in Michigan to the tune of $5.2 billion dollars and we were ranked in the top 10 in the site selection magazine."

Some of the stateÕs successes included the landing of the Google adwords division in Ann Arbor late last year; the fact that Ford Motor Company has agreed to invest $1 billion dollars in the state for new projects and United Solar has invested in new plants in Greenville. ÒWe need to get the word out that we have funding for businesses and travel development,Ó Donaldson said.