Perspective delivered by

Christopher Germain, AICP, EDFP

CEO, LSCP.

June has finally arrived! For many, that means beach season, late evening hikes, patio drinks with friends, and the reemergence of so many more summer traditions. While we live in a four seasons paradise, summer holds a special time of year for many of us (and not just because the lake might finally get warm enough to swim in).

For the LSCP, June also means it is time for our annual golf outing. Now in its 23rd year, the LSCP Golf Outing is a premier networking opportunity for local business leaders and community leaders. The outing will include all the components you’ve come to expect including golfing, poker runs, raffles, friendly competition, drinks, food, and more. The LSCP does a great job putting together this annual event and whether you’re a returning golfer or this is your first time, we hope you’ll be able to join us.

This year’s event will take place on June 15 at Greywalls Golf Course. You can learn more and register by going to .

The LSCP appreciates all our sponsors for this event: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Cleveland Cliffs, Inc. 44 North, Oaklea Simpson Security, Blackrocks Brewery, Stephanie Jones- Select Realty, West End Health Foundation, WLUC TV6, First National Bank & Trust, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Eco Smart Home Pros, Enbridge, Range Bank, Hantz Group, Iron Range Agency, Northern Michigan University, and VAST. Sponsorships remain available as well. Please reach out to Ashley Szczepanski at ashley@marquette.org for more information on those opportunities.

Switching gears, an update on housing efforts. You may recall that the Marquette County Land Bank was awarded a $50,000 grant to conduct a Target Market Analysis (TMA). The TMA will provide valuable data on our housing market and allow the Marquette County Housing Task Force to better target its efforts going forward. The LSCP is providing administrative support for the project, and we’re excited to see several local communities and organizations chip in to provide the required match for the grant, including Chocolay Township, Community Foundation of Marquette County, the DTE Foundation, Forsyth Township, City of Ishpeming, City of Marquette, Marquette County Land Bank, and the City of Negaunee. This work wouldn’t be possible without all these entities coming together to collectively pool resources. The group welcomes additional investment, so please reach out if your community or business is interested in the project.

Childcare continues to be in the front of mind for many. While it will take all of us working together to address this community need, the LSCP is pleased to see Childcare SPARK classes officially starting in June. We’ve connected with a small group of dedicated individuals who are interested and willing to start in-home childcare businesses and we have high hopes for the potential of Childcare SPARK. We continue to accept applicants for future classes. You can visit www.childcarespark.com for full details and to apply.

As always, the LSCP team is here to help. From business plan assistance and ribbon cuttings to economic impact studies and networking, the LSCP suite of services has something for everyone. Please reach out whenever we can be of assistance.