MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. (WZMQ) – The LSCP saw remarkable growth in 2024, from opening a new building to receive national recognition for its programs.
“2024 was really one for the record books,” said LSCP CEO Christopher Germain. “From everything from our west end expansion, to opening the west end economic hub, to establishing the ‘housing now’ private public partnership initiative to working on childcare ‘spark’ and getting a national award for that.”
Beyond the organization, many local businesses in Marquette County have also seen growth over the past year.
“It was also a banner year for our businesses, we saw dozens of ribbon cuttings, I think we were upwards of 80. We’re still kind of finalizing that number,” said Germain. “Most importantly out in the west end we saw a 200% increase in the number of ribbon cuttings and a significant increase in business openings.”
Germain said the record growth in the west end is being felt within the community.
“It’s just real momentum,” said Germain. “People are really believing in the west end of Marquette County and that’s really the first step to economic development is believing that the place is even worth investing in, and I feel like that’s changed a lot in the last couple of years.”
Germain also said the LSCP’s new West End Economic Hub has been a major part of helping that momentum.
“Businesses or even residents who are out in west end of Marquette County no longer have to access our services in person,” said Germain. “They can now go out there, we have a full-time staff person who’s out at that office. They can leave brochures out there, they can hold meetings out there. So it’s been really nice for us as an organization to basically have a second home.”
Going into the rest of 2025, Germain said we could see some economic uncertainty, but they aren’t giving up.
“A recession is not inevitable, but it sort of does become one if we all just decide to pull into a shell and make it happen,” said Germain. “So that’s kind of the key to keeping things going is to continue to believe in our local economy.”
Germain said they also hope to expand their business promotion programs throughout 2025.
