Year in Review

Posted by Lake Superior Community Partnership on February 17, 2015

If I could only use one word to wrap up 2014 it would be “amazing.” We have had the pleasure of working with businesses across the region, in all stages and sectors, providing a wide range of services. Once again our business development team set a new client record which topped out at nearly 400!

Earlier this month, we held our Annual Meeting which included a year in review, 2015 outlook and our Plus One recognition.  We encourage our investors and stakeholders to attend this Annual Meeting as we think it is important to share our year end results and show them the value received from their investment. We also celebrated those local businesses who have added at least one new job in the past year.  If you missed the meeting, below are the highlights:

Through the efforts of our strategic plan we have put in place internal and external metrics that keep the organization on track and accountable to our investors.  Our economic development activities supported projects in all stages of development that impacted 5,890 jobs, retained 99 jobs and projected 321 jobs. We provided business development services to a record breaking 396 clients, a 29% increase over 2013.  These clients invested $34,626,161 in Marquette County or an average of $87,447 per client.  How’s that for a return on investment?  Services to clients come in a variety of forms including general business development, retention of existing business, business financing, business plan development, site location services, marketing and advocacy assistance, information and tech assistance and talent development.  Over the past five years, we have assisted 1,329 clients.  Our Economic Development Corporation loan portfolio served eight clients with over $890,000 in loan proceeds supporting 234 jobs across Marquette County.

Through our partnership with Michigan Works! and our Plus One program, we recognized 38 Marquette County businesses who all added at least one new full time position in 2014.  Together, they represent 484 new jobs in the county.  Since we began the Plus One program eight years ago, 2,263 new jobs have been celebrated!  The companies responsible for these additions are: 906 Technologies, Active Physical Therapy, Biogenic Reagents, Charter Communications, Checker Bus, Cognition Brewing Company, CrossFit 906, D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans, Double Trouble DJs, Eagle Mine, a subsidiary of Lundin Mining, Global Response, Great Lakes Radio, Jackson’s Pit Gourmet Grill & Bar, Lake Superior Glass Company, Lakeshore Skin Care, Lakestate Industries, Lasco, Marquette Food Cooperative, Inc., Panache: Events, Décor, Boutique LLC, Pike Distributors, Inc., River Valley Bank, Root 41, RTI Surgical, Southside Automotive, Superior Rehabilitation & Professional Services, Surgical Associates of Marquette, Thomas Theatre Group, Tractor Supply Store, TruNorth Federal Credit Union, U.P. Hair Company, Upper Peninsula Power Company, U.P. Regional Labor Federation, U.P. Rehab Services, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, VAST, Wilderness Sports, Inc., WJMN-TV3 and YMCA of Marquette County.

As you can see we had a very busy 2014 and are proud of the results but we do not do any of this alone.  We partner with a wide variety of agencies, organizations, businesses and other stakeholders.  At the end of the day it’s the business owner, entrepreneur or developer who choose to invest in our region.  Visit our website to view our entire annual report and to sign up for an upcoming webinar where we’ll share these results and our 2015 outlook.  We hope you’ll contact us if we can assist you in 2015.  And as always, please let us know if you add any new jobs, we’d love to recognize your company through the Plus One program at next year’s meeting.

On behalf of the staff and board of directors, I would like to thank our investors for their continued commitment to economic development and the LSCP.  You, our partners and stakeholders, play an integral role by sharing your resources, knowledge and networks with us. You continue to invest in our community by choosing to do business here and by sharing the Marquette County story with the world.

Amy Clickner, CEO, writes a bi-weekly column for the Mining Journal.