Why I Support Economic Development in Marshall
During the process of updating Marshall's Master Plan, residents were invited to review information about our community's past, present, and future. One slide from that process has stayed with me ever since.
The slide had a graph that showed that between 2010 and 2020, Marshall's population of children ages 0-5 declined by approximately 40 percent.
I can't tell you exactly when I first saw that graph, but I can tell you how it made me feel. It rattled me.
Statistics like that are about so much more than the numbers. They represent young families, future students in our schools, future business owners, and future community leaders. A community can only thrive if the next generation chooses to live, work, and raise families here.
That graph led me to ask one basic question:
What can we do to ensure more young families choose Marshall?
If you grew up in Marshall when I did, you probably remember a very different local economy. State Farm was here. Eaton was here. Campbell's Soup was here. Lear Corp was here. Those employer's were part of everyday life in our community. They provided opportunities for people to build careers, buy homes, raise families, and put down roots right here in Marshall. Over time, many of those jobs disappeared. Not all at once, but little by little. A plant closed. An office moved. Opportunities that previous generations had counted on became harder to find.
When I saw the data showing that Marshall's population of young children had declined by 40 percent, I couldn't help but see the connection.
One of the things I love most about Marshall is that we value our heritage. We take pride in our historic downtown, our neighborhoods, our architecture, and the generations that built this community.
We celebrate our history while working towards our future.
To me, that means honoring what came before us while creating opportunities for those who will come after us.
When people hear about a project that may bring hundreds or even thousands of jobs to the area, they often think of it as unprecedented growth. I see it a little differently. Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan is expected to bring in approximately 1700 jobs. That's significant, and it has the potential to make a real difference for families and future generations. But when I look at Marshall's history, I see it as an turning point to start replenishing opportunities that have been lost over the past few decades.
To me, economic development isn't about buildings, incentives, or headlines. It's about people.
It's creating opportunities close to home. It's about helping young adults build careers without feeling like they need to leave the community they grew up in. It's about helping young families buy their first home, support local businesses, volunteer in community organizations, and become part of the fabric of Marshall.
Of course, growth should never happen without thoughtful planning and public discussion. Residents should ask questions. Public officials should demand accountability. Major projects should be evaluated carefully to ensure they align with our community's values and long-term goals.
But I also believe there are risks in standing still. If we want strong schools, vibrant neighborhoods, and thriving local businesses, we need to create opportunities for people to build their lives here.
When I think about Marshall's future I often think back to that graph. A 40 percent decline in young children is more than a statistic. It's a reminder that the decisions we make today will shape the community our children and grandchildren inherit tomorrow. I support responsible economic development because I want future generations to have the same opportunities that so many of us had: the opportunity to build a life in Marshall. To find meaningful work close to home. To buy a house, raise a family, and become a part of this community.
We celebrate our history while working towards our future. That's what economic development means to me. It isn't about the next project or the next headline. It's about creating opportunities so the next generation can write the next chapter in Marshall's story.
Marshall has many great days ahead of us, and I believe we have a responsibility to make sure our children and our grandchildren have every opportunity to be a part of them.