There is a big brown sign on the east side of M-72 as it heads into the village of Kalkaska, trumpeting the village's motto: "Room to Grow."

The motto has taken on new meaning as Kalkaska has embraced the growing marijuana economy.

Many towns and villages up north have been reluctant or bureaucratic when it comes to approving marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities. In May, Traverse City held a lottery where 78 would-be owners of medicinal dispensaries who paid a nonrefundable application fee of $5,000 each were winnowed down to 13. The city has repeatedly tabled what to do about recreational pot businesses. A current draft measure under review would allow growers, processors and secure transporters but prohibit consumption establishments or temporary marijuana events.

Just 25 miles away, Kalkaska hopes tourists will flock to its smoke-on-site businesses and to festivals where marijuana tents will compete for customers' money with beer tents and food stands.

There are currently three businesses growing marijuana in the village's industrial park just east of downtown, with eight more growers rehabbing existing buildings in the park or building new ones. There are plans for 14 growers in all, ranging from huge operations with 4,500 plants to small boutique growers focused on high-potency, high-cost bud.

So far, the pot economy has produced 50 jobs in a town where high unemployment has been the rule for decades. Village President Harley Wales said he expects there will be about 20 pot-related businesses in the village by the end of this year, and that total new pot jobs could hit 250 over the next two years.

By then, he expects the village will earn $400,000 a year in licensing and inspection fees from marijuana businesses, critical for a town that two years ago was facing a budget deficit of $500,000. An early influx of licensing and inspection fees has allowed the village to order a new Chevy Silverado truck for the police department, expand the police force from three to four and remodel the police department.