Frey Foundation Awards NLEA $10,000 to Support Talent Attraction and Retention in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties
The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from the Frey Foundation to support the Regional Talent Attraction & Retention Initiative in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties. The initiative helps local employers find, keep, and grow the workforce they need to thrive in northern Michigan.
Workforce shortages touch nearly every sector of the regional economy. In NLEA’s Spring 2026 Economic Pulse Report, 67% of regional business leaders named staffing as a top barrier to growth, and businesses estimated they could hire 321 additional workers and generate $68 million in new revenue within two years if the regional talent pool were stronger.
With support from the Frey Foundation, NLEA will bring Charlevoix and Emmet County employers together to implement proven talent strategies, strengthen career pipelines with local employers, and help businesses tackle the structural barriers that make hiring hard, including childcare and housing.
“The people of northern Michigan are our region’s greatest asset and helping employers attract and retain talented workers is some of the most important work we do,” said Payton Heins, President and CEO of NLEA. “We’re grateful to the Frey Foundation for supporting our work in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties and for sharing our belief that when local businesses can find the people they need, our whole community wins.”
The grant builds on momentum from NLEA’s recent talent work, including the publication of NLEA’s inaugural Regional Talent Solutions Report and support for the Little Roots Childcare Center in Petoskey, which added 36 licensed childcare openings when it opened earlier this year. NLEA’s regional Talent Attraction and Retention marketing campaign, featuring local employees sharing why they chose to build their careers in northern Michigan, also launched in May, 2026.
