Christopher Germain

The Lake Superior Community Partnership has supported businesses, communities, and partner organizations for twenty-five years. With a wide range of services including business development support (retention visits, planning, succession tools, marketing, etc.) and networking opportunities to direct programming that addresses critical areas of need (housing, childcare, infrastructure, etc.), it is important that we take the time to measure the impact of our work each year so to ensure we are directing our resources to create the most return for our investing partners and the community as a whole.

With this in mind, I’m pleased to report that the LSCP’s Annual Report is now available at marquette.org/annual-report.

This report covers a wide variety of programming areas, many mentioned above. While I encourage everyone to read the report directly, I’d like to highlight some of the numbers from our core service areas and initiatives.

On the business development front, the LSCP team visited with 596 business clients throughout Marquette County, impacting 10,481 jobs. These visits provide confidential support to businesses and connects them to follow-up services through the LSCP or one of our many economic development partners. Of those 596 clients, 483 were existing businesses. Top follow-up services include marketing assistance, business financing, talent development, and general technical assistance. As a core service in our toolbox, most LSCP team members conduct business visits throughout the year. If you didn’t see us last year, feel free to reach out and chat with us this year. The LSCP is unique among other economic development organizations in that we conduct these 1:1 visits with businesses of all sizes, sectors and stages. The LSCP provides staff support for the Marquette County Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The EDC’s primary tool is a revolving loan fund which provides a valuable opportunity to fund business opportunities which may not be eligible for traditional financing but can still benefit the community. In 2022 the LSCP staff worked with the EDC to issue 10 loans totaling $510,500, including $183,500 in COVID-19 CARES Act funded loans.

One of the many reasons partners invest in the LSCP is our advocacy work. Through groups like the Marquette County Ambassadors and our ongoing efforts to maintain strong connections with legislators and department officials, we communicate the unique needs of Marquette County to decision-makers. In 2022 the LSCP coordinated 72 government networking visits (primarily through two Ambassador trips to Lansing) and actively engaged with half a dozen industry groups. These included the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, Community and Economic Development Association of Michigan, and the Small Business Association of Michigan.

All of the above activities are amplified by our network, which continued to expand through business events, social media, e-newsletters, website traffic, and more. In 2022 we met or exceeded nearly every one of our metrics in this area.

Our 2022 impact is only possible thanks to the support of our investing partners and others. Thank you. I’m already looking forward to sharing the impact of our work in 2023. As you’ve likely noticed from earlier columns, it’s shaping up to be a busy year.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Christopher Germain is the Lake Superior Community Partnership’s CEO.