MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a $700,000 Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant was awarded to Innovate Marquette SmartZone (Innovate Marquette), along with project partners Northern Michigan University (NMU), Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP), and Michigan Works! (MI Works).
The grant will support the creation and management of the Marquette Outdoor Venture (MOV) Innovation Center. Among other U.P. assets, the center will utilize the region’s four-season recreational resources and legacy of manufacturing, to focus on innovation, mobility, and smart connected platforms and systems in the outdoor recreation industry.
According to a press release, partners in the project are working collectively to implement four strategies:
• Provide education, outreach, and investment programming for outdoor recreation…
