Healthy dunes help drive W MI competitiveness, activists say

Young talented professionals are inclined to locate in places with a high quality of life, particularly access to water and beaches. With that in mind, one West Michigan land-use group aims to raise awareness about the growing economic importance of Lake Michigan's globally unique network of dunes.

According to excerpts from the story:

People in West Michigan are looking for a stronger voice when it comes to land use.

Enter Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance -- a coalition of several groups which organizers hope to form soon.

Alliance organizer David Swan, co-founder of Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park, one of the alliance organizations, calls Saugatuck Dunes State Park, beaches and the former-Denison property the "economic engine of our region," saying young professionals are attracted to cities with such nature spots .

Read the complete story here.

 

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