906 Day inspires career events to encourage young people to remain and work in the U.P.

Young people in the Upper Peninsula know that area code 906 is a beautiful place to grow up. But they often think that to succeed in life, they’ll have to move away. 

“For a variety of reasons, we have found that local talent is not aware or informed of local opportunities here in the U.P.,” says Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP, the region’s leading economic development agency.  

Universities and schools in the U.P., with support from InvestUP, other organizations and dozens of businesses, are using the concepts of the recently celebrated 906 Day as a way to show them otherwise. 

‘Talent retention is one of InvestUP’s top priorities as we navigate the future of workforce development,” Fittante says. “The region needs to retain talent and especially prime-age population in order for our economy to remain viable and sustainable. Events like 906 Day are just one way to help us do this, which better positions the Upper Peninsula to be competitive into the future.” 

Universities in the U.P. draw significant numbers of students from outside of the U.P., Fittante points out. 

“We have learned that many of these students fall in love with the location, the people and the way of life,” he says. “If they are interested in living, working and playing here once they graduate, we need to inform them of the opportunities to do so. We need to ensure that these newcomers to the region are familiar with U.P.-based industries, businesses, geography and resulting opportunities for employment during their academic careers as well as upon graduation.” 

Michigan Technological University 

Michigan Tech showcased career opportunities in the U.P. and across the state during its Michigan Day event on September 9.  Michigan Day brought 15 industries that are eager to employ Michigan Tech graduates to the campus mall to interact with students. Among them were LG Energy, Cleveland Cliffs and Enstrom Helicopter, all U.P.-based businesses.

Sponsored by the university’s career services office, InvestUP and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan Day was part of Career Fest, a cluster of specialized events leading up to Tech’s enormous Career Fair on September 23, when 350 companies have registered to interact with students.  

“These smaller events like Michigan Day allow us to laser-focus on industries, regions and the state of Michigan,” explains Cody Kangas, executive director of career services at Michigan Tech. 

“For a long time, I think there was a narrative that staying in the U.P. after you graduate was not necessarily realistic,” Kangas says. “In this day and age, that’s not true. So we’re bringing these industries to campus to showcase the opportunities in the U.P. and the whole state of Michigan.”

Marquette-Alger Regional Education Service Agency 

The Marquette-Alger Regional Education Service Agency (MARESA), which supports 14 school systems and schools in Marquette and Alger counties, did not conduct an actual 906 Day event, but the agency is using the 906 Day concepts — pride of place and appreciation for the unique natural beauty of the U.P., its family-friendly communities and economic opportunities — to help students realize that there are careers, jobs they can do, that would keep them here.  

“We are always working on motivating young people to consider careers that will keep them in the U.P.,” says Erich Ziegler, director of MARESA’s Career & Technical Education/Career Education Planning District. “We do it every day. That’s our guiding light.”

MARESA sponsored a CTExtravaganza (Career and Technical Education) to give students a chance to discover the many opportunities awaiting them in the U.P. after high school. Middle and high school students engaged in interactive activities, met with local industry professionals and learned more about the wide range of careers available—from healthcare and education to skilled trades, technology and business. 

“The goal of the CTExtravaganza was to spark curiosity, highlight real-world skills and showcase the power of career readiness in shaping bright futures,” Ziegler says.

The first CTExtravaganza last May at Northern Michigan University brought together students from across Marquette and Alger counties for a day of hands-on learning, career exploration and community connection. 

More than 50 businesses and organizations participated in the CTExtravaganza, including the Lake Superior Community Partnership, InvestUP and Innovate MQT. 

Mount Manufacturing is a Marquette-based industry that participated in the event. 

“The CTExtravaganza was an exciting – and for us, first of its kind — meeting of young minds, educators and business partners from across the U.P.,” says Rich Laksonen, a quality engineer at Mount Manufacturing. 

“We found that students and educators have a foggy understanding of what precision computer numerical control (CNC) manufacturing is, and what that career pathway can look like. Getting in front of such a wide swathe of folks on a single day to show them what we do with a CNC machine provided an invaluable opportunity to put the pieces together for students and the educators who are helping vector those students along the way.”

MARESA plans another CTExtravaganza in November. “We’re excited to participate again,” says Laksonen. 

Marine Trades Institute 

The Marine Trades Institute, a boat building and marine technologies school in Cedarville, used its new students welcome week to introduce them to the wonders of the U.P.  Located in the Les Cheneaux Islands, a region known for its boat building tradition, the Marine Trades Institute draws students from all over the country. 

“Welcome week is all about discovering the hidden gems of the 906,” says Gina Stegehuis, the institute’s outreach and communications coordinator. 

During the first week of September, students hiked the Narnia Nature Trail, getting up close and personal with the natural beauty of the U.P. They also toured the Cedarville Public Library, familiarizing themselves with the cultural and educational opportunities of their new home. 

“Our students come from all over the country, and we think it’s important to welcome them to ‘the 906,’” Stegehuis explains. 

Jennifer Donovan is a reporter with more than 40 years of experience on daily newspapers, magazines and university writing and editing. She is retired as director of news and media relations at Michigan Technological University and lives in Houghton.