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Northern Lakes Economic Alliance reports nearly $10M in state/federal funding, highlights local employer assistance
Summary
Peyton Hines of the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance told Petoskey council the organization helped secure nearly $10 million in state and federal funding across the region in 2025, with about $2.5–3.5 million directed to Emmet County and Petoskey projects, and described employer-assisted housing and workforce-support efforts.
Peyton Hines, president and CEO of the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, updated the Petoskey City Council on the organization’s 2025 work, emphasizing business-growth supports, infrastructure and talent-retention programs. "We have been able to secure nearly $10,000,000 in state and federal funding to support local projects across the region," Hines said, adding that roughly $3.5 million went to Emmet County projects and about $2.5 million to Petoskey-specific initiatives.
Hines described employer-assisted housing work that helped a Petoskey-area employer secure an employer-assisted housing grant to retain or attract roughly 14 employees, and said the alliance has helped businesses access USDA 0% loans and other low-interest programs. He said the alliance provides technical assistance for programs such as the Great Lakes Energy 0% interest loan and revolving loan programs and runs marketing campaigns to attract and retain talent.
Councilmembers asked about worker-ownership transitions and childcare subsidies; Hines said the alliance connects business owners to statewide organizations that facilitate employee-ownership transitions and that the alliance supported a childcare provider’s USDA loan to convert a former church into a 40‑slot childcare facility.
Why it matters: The alliance’s funding and technical assistance efforts underpin local economic development and can help address housing- and workforce-related constraints called out elsewhere in the meeting.
Next steps: Hines said reports and a regional economic impact summary will be circulated this year and the alliance will continue to assist local employers and municipalities in accessing financing and development resources.
