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Lake Superior Community Partners outlines West End business supports, grant activity and new initiatives
Summary
A Lake Superior Community Partners representative reported on first-quarter activity: Match on Main grant applications, facade and promotional support, a West End Economic Hub, a business passport pilot, childcare provider grants, and a collaboration on a regional revitalization application to MEDC.
A representative of Lake Superior Community Partners (LSCP) gave the council a quarterly update on economic development and small-business support in the West End district.
Highlights reported
- Match on Main applications: LSCP staff walked West End businesses door to door and submitted an application for Earth Goods Cafe; Match on Main is a $25,000 matching grant program administered by MEDC for eligible communities.
- Workshops and technical assistance: LSCP held two workshops at the West End Hub (a Match on Main workshop and a general grant-writing session) and a lunch-and-learn on recently updated Earned Sick Time Act requirements, aimed at small-business compliance.
- Promotional support and events: LSCP reported marketing and promotional support for local businesses and said they are developing a West End business passport (a tourist-oriented marketing pass) and a West End newsletter with a high open rate.
- Funding and partnerships: LSCP said it has a contract to hold the small-business celebration in Ishpeming and has used settlement funds isolated to the West End Economic Hub operating fund. LSCP also said the Lehi Foundation planned to support a West End Christmas market.
- Childcare and housing initiatives: LSCP is launching a childcare provider grant program (funded with county ARPA funds) with grants up to $5,000 and noted a new public-private housing partnership called Housing Now / 906.
Why this matters: LSCP s work is intended to drive downtown foot traffic, support small-business growth, and leverage grant programs to upgrade storefronts and business operations in the West End. Councilors praised the outreach and asked staff to coordinate continued partnership.
Ending
Council members thanked the LSCP representative for the update and encouraged continued collaboration on grants, promotional events and the West End economic hub.
