Today, as we continue our series on expressing thankfulness, we express gratitude for dirt.

That is, the dirt turning as you read this out on M-32, in front of the Meijer parking lot.

There, crews are constructing the buildings that will house an urgent care facility and a Starbucks, signs of lots of economic development happening in Northeast Michigan.

Near that new urgent care, developers have plans for a new Aldi grocery store and Marshalls department store. Businesses fill almost every storefront downtown. A developer has plans to build a new hotel on the Thunder Bay River.

North of Alpena, Rogers City has joined the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Main Street program for technical assistance on economic development.

Right now, it seems, the business of Northeast Michigan is business.

That means jobs. That means tax revenue. That means more shopping opportunities. More tourism.

For the economic wellbeing of our community, those are all good things.

We’re thankful for that news, and thankful for all the folks — from the developers to local economic development officials to local elected officials — who helped make it happen.