Whether you live here now or plan to, Northern Michigan has so much to offer – great careers, exceptional trails and lakes, and a strong sense of community.
Ranked the sixth most affordable state, Michigan offers an exceptional quality of life—especially in Northern Michigan. Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties combine career opportunities in fields like advanced manufacturing, environmental research, and award-winning education with unmatched access to natural beauty and recreation. Here, you can pursue your passion just minutes from sparkling waterways and endless trails.
Northern Michigan is home to a vibrant and diverse set of industries and fields of work. We host businesses ranging from big tech, manufacturing and STEM, to hospitality, tourism, and the arts. We have a place for everyone!
Northern Michigan is home to a number of renowned restaurants, bars, breweries and distilleries. Pair that with the natural beauty of Northern Michigan, where artists love to call our area home. Experience the creativity that Northern Michigan embraces through live entertainment, art galleries, museums, and more!
There are so many opportunities to get outside, get active, and have some fun along the way! Explore local attractions such as the Petoskey Breakwall, Mackinac Bridge, Boyne Mountain’s Skybridge, and Torch Lake, or any of our various parks and outdoor trails. See what Northern Michigan has to offer!
Northern Michigan feels like home, and the people feel like family. With a great sense of community, there are so many opportunities to get involved!
With two nationally recognized regional hospitals, and an extensive network of primary care clinics, top-notch medical attention is never more than a few miles away. Northern Michigan receives outstanding grades for education year after year due to offering some of Michigan’s finest public, private and charter K-12 programs.
Nestled within our charming and vibrant communities, you’ll discover unique local retailers, exceptional breweries, distilleries, and wineries, as well as welcoming cafes, farms, orchards, and restaurants—offering all the warmth of small-town life without compromising on modern amenities.
Read and watch stories from others who have moved to Northern Michigan and are thriving! These people did it, and so could you!
Juliette returned to Northern Lower Michigan after living in cities like Chicago because she knew there was no better place to raise her family. As the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for King Orchards in Antrim County, Juliette handles the external relationships of the family-owned orchard and food business all while still “getting dirty” on the farm by assisting with production. Contrary to most people, Juliette’s favorite time of year in Northern Michigan is the winter; the farm isn’t as busy so she can ski and spend more time with her kids.
The twins, Michael and Adam, had grown up coming to the North but, unlike most, they had only experienced the winter. After graduating from Michigan State and moving to Colorado, they came back to ski and met someone that really wanted to put money into Northern Michigan. Thus, Gypsy Spirits was founded. Michael and Adam, now known as the “Gypsy Twins” feel that the tight-knit community’s investment in the success of young entrepreneurs in the area has really helped their business grow. Now, they use their talents to help other young people in the area succeed.
After working in the corporate world downstate, Andy realized he could not continue working in that environment the rest of his life. He didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he knew he wanted to do it in the North. The Roush’s are now the owners of Petoskey Farms Winery & Vineyard, and their daughter just opened a coffeehouse extension as well! They love that they get to meet such a large variety of people in the busy season, while still enjoying their time skiing and boating.
On a search for new experiences, Mitchell moved to Jamacia. However, he didn’t feel at home until he moved back to Northern Michigan. As an educator in a K-12 school system, Mitchell utilizes the small town feel of Northern Michigan to better connect with the students and families he works with. In his free time, he loves exploring local antique stores.
As a descendant of Chief Petosegay, Jason chose to start his family in Northern Michigan. Inspired by the landscape, his daughter requested a stand-up paddleboard made from natural materials—something no one else produced. The unique craftsmanship drew attention, leading to the creation of Little Bay Boards. Jason’s passion makes his business both work and hobby, and the supportive Northern Michigan community showcases his boards in local shops.
Originally from Upper Peninsula, Jeff knew what it took to live in Northern Michigan. After relocating to South Lyon and starting to build Skis with his brother, they knew they no longer wanted to build this business alone. They roped their father into the ski-building business and decided to move north, settling in Boyne City.
After attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and working in the city for a couple of years, Monica felt like she needed a change of scenery. Growing up in Boyne City, she always felt a sense of home in Northern Michigan. After working at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Traverse City and One Up Web, she was finally called home to the area and has worked in Petoskey since. She believes that Northern Michigan’s “it” factor is the beautiful landscape and the people.
Sommer started as a teacher and loved what she did, but after having children of her own, she decided to start a blog. Her blog was featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more! She started working for a small nutrition company based in Petoskey, MI. Then, Sommer decided she wanted to grow an agency and help as many small businesses with their marketing as she could. She took the leap and started Keep it Real Social in 2018. She enjoys spending time with her family while enjoying all that Northern Michigan offers!
Growing up in Northern Michigan, Taylor grew a passion for filmmaking while attending Harbor Springs High School. After graduating, he enrolled in film school at Denison University in Ohio. He then moved to Boston, MA where he worked on many different films, most notably “Confessions of the Boston Strangler”. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Taylor found himself back in Michigan where he began to work on “Pony-tales”. Taylor describes Northern Michigan, and Harbor Springs in specific, as “something out of a storybook.”
After finishing their degrees at Michigan Tech University in the Upper Peninsula, Beccie and Will decided to travel the country. After living in a van in states such as Wisconsin and New Mexico, they decided it was time for a change. Their Northern Michigan roots started calling them home, and they decided it was time to come home.
Are you ready to find your forever home? You’re looking in the right place. With cozy homes scattered around our region, there’s going to be a great place for those who Choose the North to call home!
The DTE Energy Foundation has supported the NLEA’s work through an annual internship program. The program offers students the opportunity for real world experience in their field—from analyzing economic trends to studying potential markets for broadband to marketing industrial sites—that positively impacts their community. Their support directly led to the creation of the Choose the North talent attraction and retention campaign which highlights the professional opportunities and exceptional quality of life available to young professionals in the region.
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