Big business expansion plans are in the works for Delta County, thanks to a recent land transaction signed by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Keith Creagh at Thursday’s meeting of the Natural Resources Commission, in Iron Mountain. Director Creagh signed a “release of reverter interest” on a land parcel in Escanaba, part of which is now in line for sale from Delta County to Bell’s Upper Hand Brewery.
The roughly 40-acre parcel of land was deeded to the city of Escanaba in 1941 through a public use deed that contained a reverter interest. The reverter stated that the land could only be used for airport purposes. If that ceased to be the case, the land would revert to the state of Michigan. In 1973, the city of Escanaba conveyed the entire airport (including this parcel) to Delta County. The release of the reverter interest is required in order for Delta County to sell or lease the property for business development in and around the Delta County Airport.
“Releasing the reverter clause on this particular piece of public land will help promote the local and regional economies tied to Delta County’s Airport Renaissance Zone,” said DNR Director Creagh. “When it became clear what the county and development officials were trying to accomplish, we immediately got on board.
“The move to expand Bell’s Brewery and bolster the area’s economic strength is a great example of the governor’s Regional Prosperity Initiative in action,” Creagh added.
Delta County Economic Development Alliance Director Vicki Schwab agrees. She said Bell’s Upper Hand Brewery is a $1.6 million, 11,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art craft brewery, one that expects to employ five people and will produce a variety of beers and ales to be distributed across the U.P. and adjacent northern states.
“In economic development, it takes collaboration from all organizations. This is a ‘best practice’ on how community leaders can all work together to further economic development in our beautiful waterfront community,” said Schwab. “This experience has been great – a very fast and seamless process that exceeded my expectations.”
“I pass through (Escanaba) on a regular basis and the property there will be convenient for me and my staff to get to,” said Larry Bell, owner of Bell’s Upper Hand Brewery.
“Escanaba has all the resources anyone opening an industry would want to have,” Bell said. “I see a lot of potential for continued development. It’s a good place for Bell’s to be.”
Release of the reverter also opens up new possibilities for Delta County Airport. Manager Kelly Smith said the opportunity for the county to freely sell land to Bell’s Brewery and other new or expanding businesses will help the airport in its goal to become self-sufficient.
“This move really allows us to compete on an even playing field as we strive to grow the economic health of our region,” Smith said. “Working with Bell’s, our team here in Delta County, and the DNR’s Real Estate Services Section has been exciting and shows the collaboration between all the different entities. It’s been a pleasure to have a group of individuals that see a change is needed and push to accomplish it so quickly.”
Earlier this year, Gov. Rick Snyder introduced the Regional Prosperity Initiative – an effort to align Michigan’s statewide service delivery structure for greater efficiencies and effectiveness, and strengthen local economies by providing communities with more opportunities to control and direct their economic futures.
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