Lake Superior Community Partnership

What Lake Superior Community Partnership does

Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) is a private non-profit economic development organization headquartered in Marquette, Michigan, serving as the primary convener of business, government, and civic stakeholders across Marquette County and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Founded in 1997 as the successor to the early-1980s Lake Superior Jobs Coalition, LSCP delivers a portfolio of services including business retention and expansion support, site selection via the ZoomProspector platform, financing assistance (Revolving Loan Fund of approximately $1 million), workforce development, government advocacy, economic impact studies (IMPLAN), and the Lake Superior Leadership Academy. Staff hold certifications including Economic Modeling Specialist (Lightcast), IMPLAN Specialist, and AICP credentials, supporting technical economic development work for principal regional employers in healthcare (UP Health System), mining (Cleveland-Cliffs, Eagle Mine), higher education (Northern Michigan University), and manufacturing (Resolve Surgical Technologies, Superior Extrusion).

The organization's flagship recent initiative is the Central Upper Peninsula Small Business Support Hub, launched in November 2023 with $3,426,015 in Michigan Economic Development Corporation funding over three years to serve small businesses across seven counties — Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, and Schoolcraft — through Small Business Resource Navigators, direct grants, and programming. LSCP also administers the Match on Main grant program on behalf of the City of Ishpeming DDA and has secured a $750,000 MDOT grant supporting air service enhancement at Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport.

LSCP is funded approximately 80% from private sector partner investments and 20% from public sector sources including MEDC grants and contracts with Baraga County EDC and Dickinson Area EDA. Services are delivered at no direct cost to beneficiary businesses; revenue is derived from a tiered partner investment program, public grants, and contracts. The organization is governed by a volunteer board representing labor, industry, business, education, non-profits, media, and government, and operates with 20+ full-time and regional staff.

Name

Lake Superior Community Partnership

Legal name

Lake Superior Community Partnership

Website

https://marquette.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lake Superior Community Partnership is a Marquette, Michigan-based non-profit economic development organization delivering business retention, site selection, financing, workforce development, and grant administration services to businesses and governments across Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Small business support
• Site selection consulting
• Workforce development programs
• Business grant administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Marquette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Private Sector Investment: Funding comes primarily from private sector partners (80% of budget). Businesses and organizations become partners through investment levels that provide benefits including advocacy, site selection, financing, and workforce development services.
2. Public Sector Funding: 20% of funding comes from public sector sources including contracts with Baraga County EDC and Dickinson Area EDA, Michigan Economic Development Corporation local partner agreement, and MEDC grants for programs like the Small Business Support Hub.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lake Superior Community Partnership is a non-profit economic development organization that delivers business development consulting, site selection, financing assistance, workforce development, and grant administration to businesses, entrepreneurs, and local governments across Marquette County and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It also operates the Central Upper Peninsula Small Business Support Hub, providing direct grants, resource navigation, and programming across seven counties. Core services are funded through private sector partner investments (80%) and public sector sources (20%) and are provided at no direct cost to end users.

Product overview

The Lake Superior Community Partnership operates as a regional economic development organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include business development planning and consulting services, the Central Upper Peninsula Small Business Support Hub (a collaborative grant and resource program covering seven counties), site selection tools, and various financing programs including a Revolving Loan Fund. Additional services encompass government advocacy, workforce development, succession planning, economic impact analysis, and networking programs like the Lake Superior Leadership Academy. The organization also administers grant programs including Match on Main (up to $25,000 for place-based businesses) and Direct Grants through the Hub program. Partner businesses receive additional benefits including marketing assistance, event hosting opportunities, and access to the Key to the County discount program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Central Upper Peninsula Small Business Support Hub (The Hub): A regional small business support initiative covering Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, and Schoolcraft counties, providing grants and business development resources.
• West End Economic Hub

Products and services

• Central Upper Peninsula Small Business Support Hub (The Hub) A collaborative initiative covering Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, and Schoolcraft counties providing direct grants, small business resource navigation, and programming to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
• Site Selection Services Site selection tool and resources to help businesses find optimal locations for starting or expanding in Marquette County, utilizing the ZoomProspector platform.
• Business Services Managed business growth services including profit maximization, business check-ups, succession planning, and economic impact studies.
• Start a Business Services Comprehensive strategic and business planning services for entrepreneurs including education, coaching, research assistance, and access to a vast network of local and regional partnerships.
• Business Development & Marketing Resource Guide Strategic planning services guiding entrepreneurs through starting or expanding a business with appropriate resources and tools.
• Talent & Workforce Development Workforce development services including job postings, career resources, apprenticeship programs, and connections to Michigan Works and other employment services.
• Government Relations & Advocacy Legislative tracking, analysis, and advocacy services representing the community and partners on regulations affecting regional industry and economy.
• Match on Main Grant Program Reimbursement grant program administered with MEDC providing up to $25,000 to support new or expanding place-based businesses in the Ishpeming DDA district, requiring a 10% cash match.
• Hub Direct Grants Direct grant funding through the Small Business Support Hub for eligible small businesses that have participated in Hub programs within six months prior to award, with capital expenses capped at $4,999 per unit.
• Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Gap financing program totaling approximately $1 million from the Economic Development Corporation of Marquette County, providing loans for projects requiring $2 private funding for every $1 of RLF funding.
• Economic Impact Studies Analysis services showing effects of investments, events, or changes in employment or wages on the local economy using IMPLAN and other tools.
• Lake Superior Leadership Academy (LSLA) Leadership development program bringing together potential leaders to address community needs, strengthen individual leadership abilities, and encourage assuming new leadership roles in the community.
• Key to the County Program Incentive program encouraging LSCP partner businesses and employees to shop locally with participating members, offering discounts and benefits.
• Industrial Parks Directory Directory of available industrial parks including Telkite Technology Park at Sawyer International (1.5 million sq ft), Highland Development Park, Midway Industrial Park, Iron Bay Business Park, and Ishpeming Industrial Park.

Quantifiable outcome

• Central U.P. Small Business Support Hub awarded $108,703 to 15 local businesses in fourth grant cycle (January 2026)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023MEDC awarded $3,426,015 over three years to establish the Central Upper Peninsula Small Business Support Hub. LSCP serves as the MEDC Local Partner for Marquette County, administering programs and connecting businesses to state resources.
• Northern Michigan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMU partners with the Hub through the Main Street Academy program, matching business interns with Hub participants. NMU's College of Business supports small business education and workforce development.
• Accelerate U.P.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the Hub's Marquette County Small Business Resource Navigator office space at 102 West Washington Street, Room 224, Marquette.
• Innovate Marquette SmartZonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner providing innovation and entrepreneurship support services as part of the Hub collaboration.
• Small Business Development Center Upper Peninsula RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBDC provides business counseling, training, and technical assistance to small businesses in the Hub coverage area.
• Keweenaw Bay Indian CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBIC serves as a Hub partner providing services to tribal communities. Robin Chosa serves as Small Business Resource Navigator for Baraga County and tribal communities. KBIC also partners on housing developments like Black Rock Crossing.
• Sault Tribe ThrivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partner providing small business support services and office hours for tribal communities in Marquette County.
• Baraga County EDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSCP signed contract in 2017 to work collaboratively in economic development with Baraga County EDC.
• Dickinson Area EDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSCP signed contract in 2017 to work collaboratively in economic development with Dickinson Area EDA. Mindy Meyers serves as Executive Director of Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance.
• Marquette Sawyer Regional AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSCP works closely with the airport on air service enhancement efforts, including conducting surveys, applying for grants, and coordinating with airlines.
• Mead & HuntminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm contracted by LSCP to conduct air service demand and leakage study and True Visitation Estimate study for Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lakesuperiorcommunitypartnership
• Xx.com/lscp6591
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lake-superior-community-partnership

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lake Superior Community Partnership