Perspective delivered by

Christopher Germain, AICP, EDFP

CEO, LSCP.

It’s finally June! While in many places, that means temperatures in the 80s and 90s, you never quite know here. What we do know is that when summer decides to stick around, our beaches and trails will be packed as we welcome summer visitors. While this weather tries to figure out what it wants to do, the LSCP team continues to be hard at work on several economic development initiatives.

Air Service: The LSCP has convened the Transportation Task Force twice in the past two months to focus on ways to advocate for additional air service out of Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport. This task force was pivotal in securing the Marquette – Minneapolis route last time, and we are optimistic we can repeat that success. We’ll have more on this front in the coming months, so stay tuned.

Housing Target Market Analysis: The LSCP-led Marquette County Intergovernmental Housing Task Force is moving full speed ahead on a Target Market Analysis. The project, funded through a combination of state and local funding, will help quantify the market situation and help direct where we should target future efforts. We expect the project to wrap up by the end of the year. Thank you to the following communities and organizations for investing in this project: State of Michigan (Rural Development Grant), Marquette County Land Bank, City of Marquette, City of Negaunee, LSCP Chairman’s Circle, Community Foundation of Marquette County, Chocolay Township, Forsyth Township, City of Ishpeming, Marquette Township, Ishpeming Township, and the DTE Foundation. The project will begin in early July, but we continue to welcome additional investors to support implementation efforts that will follow once the analysis is complete.

Childcare Capacity: The Childcare SPARK program has officially started in-person classes with lots of positivity and ambition. The initial cohort of participants will help us refine the program and add up to 48 childcare slots across the county once completed (from Marquette to Palmer). You can learn more at childcarespark.com. We hope to start another cohort in August or September, so please pass on the word if you know anyone looking to start an in-home childcare business. Related, there’s been active interest from a childcare organization in starting a Marquette County location. They are currently seeking investors, so please reach out if that’s of interest, and we can connect you.

Small Business Advisory Council: In May, the LSCP officially announced the launch of our newest committee: The Small Business Advisory Council. A formal partnership between the LSCP and the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce (GINCC), the council is reserved for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. It is designed to ensure the LSCP is building the right tools to support our smaller partners across the county best. You can learn more or sign up at marquette.org/sbac.

In addition to all this movement, we’re thrilled to welcome three new members to the LSCP team in the past two months, assisting with operations/marketing, community economic development, and a project manager for the Childcare SPARK program. If you see new faces, be sure to say hello!

As always, please reach out if our team can assist your business or organization. Our goal of creating an economically vibrant Marquette County involves each and every one of us, and we’re here to help your business find ongoing growth and success. You can find all our tools and resources at marquette.org.