The Economic Development Alliance (EDA) of St. Clair County held its annual meeting Tuesday afternoon. The meeting updated stakeholders, economic partners and community leaders on the current economic climate of the county as well as reported results for 2019 and the five-year plan from 2014-2019.
Donna Russell-Kuhr, Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors for the EDA, shared the five-year plan results, which were overall, positive. Indicators in the specified time period included the first time for population growth in the county since 2005. In those five years, more than $1.7 billion was invested into St. Clair County, creating more than 3,000 new jobs with the unemployment rate dropping from 9.3% to 3.9%.
In 2019, the EDA reported investments of nearly $1.5 billion, mainly with the announcement of the DTE Blue Water Energy Center set to open in 2023, growth of 526 new jobs, 282 housing starts, and average unemployment at 4.8% for the year.
Going forward, Dan Casey, CEO of the EDA, said the focus for the organization in the next two years will center around talent, developing attractive places and supporting next-generation businesses.
Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.
