KRISTYNE E. DEMSKE C & G Staff Writer
Published: December 1, 2010
UTICA – Dressed head to toe in snug black running clothes, he could have been just any other jogger exercising in the city but for the small black video camera strapped to his hand. That’s what gave away George Morse of Oscoda as anything but a typical runner.
Indeed, Morse was running through the city on a recent cold morning hoping to shine the spotlight on a dozen or so businesses in the community.
Morse, 45, is part-way through running 1, 000 miles to help support small businesses and recording the adventure for a blog, Thousand Miles for Michigan.
“I want to help get people motivated, raise awareness as to how important small-business owners are to the economy,” he said.
He has 17 years experience as a small-business owner in Oscoda, first with a Subway sandwich franchise and then as a small-business coach. He said he “really got quite fed up with all the negative press … people saying things like, ‘you can’t make money in Michigan.’” “My own business is thriving,” he said. “I believe that the way forward for us is first, get out of that negative mindset.” He said Michiganders, especially lawmakers, need to realize the value of the small-business community – that’s why he’s running five miles in 200 different towns and cities across the state.
The same day he ran through Utica, Nov. 19, Morse also did five miles through the city of Rochester, taking photos and videos for his blog along the way.
For Utica’s post, Morse featured members of City Hall, Battery Warehouse, Biggby Coffee, Utica Florist, Hatchy’s, Rabaut Printing, The Shamrock Pub and Weingartz all saying, “We believe in Michigan.” Several other businesses in the city were featured in photos throughout the video that Morse took along his run.
He ends the video on a positive note: “In your business, in your community and for our state, surround yourself with positive people and stay focused on finding solutions,” he said. “I’m Coach Morse, and I believe in you and I believe in Michigan.” The intent of the blog, he said, is to share publicity and a positive attitude with small-business owners around the state.
Rabaut Printing, owned by Mark Rabaut, was Morse’s first stop in Utica.
“It’s giving the city of Utica a little recognition,” Rabaut said. “We continuously are trying to improve business in the area.” He said he thinks Morse’s spotlight will help.
“The more he does with this 1, 000-mile run, the more it’s going to slowly get noticed (and) so will all the businesses,” Rabaut said.
Morse began the blog in July, averaging about 30-35 miles each week. Each run takes about three hours because of the continuous stops to talk to business owners and employees and to videotape the locations.
The run through Utica had him up to 375 miles, and he is set to reach the 500-mile mark Dec. 18 in Frankenmuth. He’ll start running again after the new year and hopes to finish up April 28 in Lansing during the Michigan Celebrates Small Business conference.
Morse said he started running about four-and-a-half years ago, after he quit smoking. Now in addition to running, he also does triathlons.
Bonnie Campbell, the day manager at Hatchy’s, said she was happy to have the business be a part of the Thousand Miles for Michigan blog.
“Utica really needs to be recognized, too,” she said. “If we can be a part of it and let people know where we’re at, it will help all the businesses.” Morse said he’s hoping fans of the blog will adopt a business after watching their local segment – seeking out the owner or another staff member to tell them why they’re a favorite and what they mean to the community. Beyond that, Morse said he hopes viewers will take a look at the other videos and pick a place each month that they’ve never been to, then travel there and patronize a featured business.
He has been married for 25 years to his wife, Andrea, and has two daughters – 23-year-old Michelle and 14-year-old Taylor – and a son, A.J., who is 18.
“They’re real supportive about it,” Morse said.
His older daughter does the marketing for the blog, and his son actually puts together the videos from where he is living in Germany, where he plays soccer.
“The hardest part of this is being away,” Morse said, noting that Oscoda is about 200 miles from Detroit. “I’m missing a big chunk of Taylor’s freshman year in high school.” He said the response to the blog has been very positive.
“As a small-business owner, I know you sometimes feel isolated,” he said. “There’s a lot of stresses that small-business owners are feeling right now, but what they’re doing really makes a difference.” For more information and to see the Utica video, visit www.thousandmilesformichigan.com.
Copyright, 2010, Shelby-Utica News (MI), All Rights Reserved.
