2011 Recap
Posted by Amy Clickner on January 27, 2012
We are coming to the end of a very busy January at the Lake Superior Community Partnership. The month has not only been spent refining our plans for 2012, but recapping our efforts and achievements in 2011. As we enter a new year of possibilities, it is important to look back to celebrate successes, look to improve, and prepare for challenges and opportunities. Let me highlight just a few:
Financial viability is typically challenging for non-profit and member driven organizations. Through the tireless efforts of our Finance Task Force, Treasurer and Controller, we have been able to manage expenses, diversify our revenue base and plan for the future. We are holding steady with a budget of approximately $670,000, and a staff of 10 to carry out all our economic development programs and services county-wide. Our dues are approximately 32% of our budget, and of this, 78% is privately funded.
The way we communicate with our partners and the community was a major focus for us in 2011 and will continue to be and even larger part of our efforts moving forward. There are plenty of opportunities to connect and find out what the LSCP is up to, as well as important news and announcements that effect our economy and business community. Our Web site has been revamped and reorganized to better serve our partners and clients, increase transparency and create more clarity as to who we are and what we do. Of course, social media has played a big role in helping us engage with a larger audience.
The Lake Superior Community Partnership recently published a “Guide to Business Development and Marketing Resources” hand book, which details all of the LSCP’s services in economic development, talent enhancement/workforce development, networking & business promotions, business to business programs, business marketing & advertising, and our exclusive insurance benefits. You can find this online or call our office for a copy.
Our efforts in community and workforce development continue to have an impact with programs such as the Lake Superior Leadership Academy, 40 Below Young Professionals Network, Electrical Line Technician and Substation Program, Lake Superior Partners in Education and Marquette Area Bikeability Committee.
We gained 39 new dues-paying partners in 2011 and our retention rate was 88 percent which is four percent about the national average (84%). The majority of our partners continue to be those with less than 25 employees, making up 61 percent of our entire partnership.
Our business efforts are our bread and butter. We are very proud of the progress that we have made in 2011, servicing 228 clients which is more than twice as many as 2010 (85). In 2011, LSCP economic development activities supported projects in all stages of development that represented commitments of the retention of 4,720 jobs and development of 2,162 more. I want to be very clear that the LSCP/EDC does none of this in a silo. We have partners and stakeholders involved in each and every successful project. Also, we have the pleasure of assisting many companies and entrepreneurs throughout the year, but in the end it’s the investor who pulls the trigger and creates the job. Retention/Expansion of existing businesses made up 55 percent of our business development clients in 2011, while 25 percent were start-up business projects, and 20 percent were prospective businesses based in other areas of the country.
More information on the LSCP’s 2011 successes will be released soon in our Annual Report, and will be available on our Web site. For more information on the Lake Superior Community Partnership, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In or at marquette.org. Of course you can always call us at 226-6591.
