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Lake Superior Community Partnership updates commission; new CEO Natalie Chameko introduced
Summary
LSCP presented its 2025 highlights to the Marquette City Commission, including facade grants, childcare funding, housing work and $3 million secured in the state budget for Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport; Christopher Germaine announced he is moving to a senior adviser role and introduced new CEO Natalie Chameko.
The Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) updated the Marquette City Commission on May 26, highlighting recent regional economic-development work and announcing a leadership transition.
Christopher Germaine, speaking as outgoing CEO and now senior adviser, reviewed LSCP's 2025 accomplishments including a multi‑community facade subgrant that attracted MEDC funding and private match, participation in a new regional childcare coalition, progress on a countywide housing strategy, and advocacy that helped secure $3,000,000 in the state budget for Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport. Germaine said the organization worked with more than 500 clients last year and estimated its activities touched thousands of jobs across the region.
Germaine introduced Natalie Chameko, who said she became LSCP CEO earlier in May and emphasized continuity and stability during the leadership transition. Chameko outlined her economic-development background at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and said LSCP will continue the organization's strategic plan for another year while she and the board orient to the role.
Why it matters: LSCP described several accomplishments tied to local investment and job retention, and the $3 million state appropriation for Sawyer Regional Airport was highlighted as a critical resource to support commercial air service in the Upper Peninsula. Commissioners thanked Germaine for his work and welcomed Chameko.
Next steps: Commissioners and LSCP said they will continue collaboration on housing, childcare, airport funding and small‑business support. LSCP noted that its small business support hub funding will be reduced in scale as state grants expire, and that continuing partnerships will be needed to sustain programming.
