Bay Harbor, MI — November 2025 – The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) and the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted community and business leaders from across Northern Michigan for the Regional Business Outlook on Thursday, November 6, exploring key economic trends impacting the region. 

 

The event featured a dynamic panel discussion with industry leaders representing a cross-section of industries, including manufacturing, construction, finance, landscaping design and service, and agriculture. Panelists shared their perspectives on barriers to growth ranging from local lack of workforce housing to state policy. They also shared the outlook for their industry and strategies they see to drive more sustainable business growth in the year ahead. 

Panelists included Scott Philp, President & CEO of Landscape Logic; Juliette King-McAvoy, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at King Orchards; Jake Manthei, President of Aster Brands; Bill Marshall, Commercial Relationships Manager at Huntington Bank; and Serenity Dankert, Managing Principal of Ironwood Construction Company. The discussion was moderated by Sam Bailey, Strategic Initiatives Manager for the NLEA. 

 

“Doing business here, despite significant state and local regulatory and demographic headwinds, is an act of purpose. It shapes the trajectory of families for generations,” Jake Manthei stated, “That’s why the NLEA matters. Every dollar invested, every entrepreneur supported, every company grown becomes a lasting force for good in Northern Michigan.” 

At the event, the NLEA also released its latest Economic Pulse Report and shared key insights from the regional survey effort with business and community leaders. The bi-annual report from NLEA provides a snapshot of the regional economy, major development projects, and key indicators shaping business confidence. 

Survey respondents represented more than 3,450 employees across diverse industries as well as local governments across Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties. When identifying barriers to growth, 81% of business leaders and 56% of government leaders pointed to lack of attainable housing. Staffing shortages were also pointed to as a persistent challenge, with 63% of business leaders indicating it as a top barrier to growth. Responding businesses estimated they could hire 330 additional workers and generate $185 million in additional revenue within two years without existing workforce limitations. 

“The Economic Pulse Report provides a critical, up-to-date snapshot of the regional economy. The NLEA generates this insightful data to inform business and community leaders and better equip the NLEA and our partners to deliver effective strategies and solutions,” Sam Bailey.

To read the full report, visit https://thenlea.com/reports/. 

The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance is a nonprofit regional economic development organization dedicated to supporting the economic vitality of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties. NLEA’s mission is to drive economic resiliency by ensuring the resources, infrastructure, and policies exist to fuel business growth and community prosperity.   

For more information about this event and other NLEA initiatives, please visit our website.