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Group marks 20 years

Brett French, the newly-elected chairman of Lake Superior Community Partnership’s Board of Directors, speaks at the LSCP’s 20th annual meeting at NMU’s Jamrich Hall on Wednesday. (Journal photo by Cecilia Brown)

MARQUETTE — Marking two decades of operation, the Lake Superior Community Partnership held its 20th annual meeting and Plus One awards recognition Wednesday night in Northern Michigan University’s Jamrich Hall.

Brett French was elected as the new chairman of LSCP’s board, taking the place of Dennis Smith, who had served as chairman for the past five years.

“You’ve done such a great job, you’ve helped to bring us where we are celebrating this 20th year of the organization. We can’t thank you enough,” French said to Smith.

Amy Clickner, CEO of LSCP, presented the “LSCP Year in Review,” with a focus on the major achievements of the organization spanning its 20-year history, as well as the achievements made in the past year. Clickner contrasted Marquette County’s current situation with that in 1998, following the closure of K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base and the community’s loss of around 10,000 people.

“The economic impact was devastating and affected every industry in every corner of our county,” she said.

LSCP was founded 20 years ago as part of the response to this situation.

“The partnership was then formed because a group of really forward-thinking individuals said ‘How do we form a private-public partnership that can help us get though this?'” Clickner said. “Today, it’s 2018, 20 years later, K.I. Sawyer is now vibrant with over 40 businesses and about 1,500 people working out there.”

Over the past 20 years, the role of LSCP has evolved to fit the needs of our community and region. When LSCP began in 1998, the organization tried to “be everything to everyone,” Clickner said, explaining it functioned as the chamber of commerce, tourism and recreation services, and an economic development entity.

“Our mission then, nobody knew, it was so large and we were trying to be everything to everybody,” she said.

However, nine years ago LSCP narrowed its mission statement to focus solely on economic development.

“Fast-forward to today, we’re focused 100 percent on economic development,” she said. “Regional development is one of our top priorities, … working smarter and stronger with our neighbors. This is what we are best at and how we can best serve our community.”

Business can be served by LSCP in many capacities related to economic development, including talent development, marketing assistance, business plan development and retention of existing businesses.

The organization served 422 clients in the year 2017, with 3,000 clients served since LSCP started collecting data on client services. LSCP’s services have impacted an estimated 54,762 jobs and many regional wealth indicators have experienced double-digit growth from 2013-2017, Clickner said.

Clicker also outlined the “top 10” achievements of LSCP in the past 20 years and for 2017.

Notable achievements for 2017 include: the return of the Minneapolis flight at Sawyer International Airport, the addition of data and research services, nearly $1 billion of investment, the return of Comedy Zone, as well as regional collaboration.

“Top 10” achievements for LSCP’s 20 years included: performing the study on air service to Sawyer in 1998, beginning their “Plus One Program” in 2006, helping to create the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, the largest recreation authority in the state in 2008.

At the close of the annual meeting, LSCP officials thanked their staff for all of their hard work that made all of these achievements possible, noting that they look forward to seeing what the organization can accomplish in the next 20 years.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is cbrown@miningjournal.net.

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