Northern Lakes Economic Alliance Receives $12,000 Grant to Strengthen Charlevoix County Workforce
The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) has been awarded a $12,000 grant from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation through its Community Priorities 2026 grant cycle to support a targeted talent attraction and retention initiative in Charlevoix County.
The investment will allow NLEA to expand programming aimed at helping employers address one of the county’s most pressing economic challenges: building and retaining a strong workforce.
“Workforce shortages continue to be one of the greatest barriers to economic growth in our region,” said Wes Sovis, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the NLEA. “We are grateful to the Charlevoix County Community Foundation for investing in solutions that will help employers, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for residents throughout Charlevoix County.”
Through the initiative, NLEA will focus on employer convening, workforce pipeline development, talent attraction marketing, and technical assistance that helps businesses navigate structural barriers such as housing and childcare that directly affect workforce stability.
In the NLEA’s Spring 2026 Economic Pulse Survey, business leaders were asked to identify their top three barriers to their growth. Fifty-six percent of respondents cited a lack of attainable housing , while 36% identified access to childcare as a challenge. These findings follow staffing shortages, which 67% of business leaders identified as the region’s most significant obstacle to growth.
While the initiative supports employers, its impact extends beyond business growth. Charlevoix County has experienced significant demographic shifts over the past two decades. As the population ages, the number of residents in their prime working years has declined, creating increasing challenges for employers seeking year-round talent and threatening the long-term vitality of local communities.
From 2010 to 2023, the four-county NLEA region lost nearly 14% of its prime working-age population while residents age 60 and older increased by more than 10%. In Charlevoix County specifically, the share of residents ages 25 to 54 has declined significantly over the last two decades, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts to attract and retain talent.
“Employers continuously tell us that job candidates are having to turn down opportunities because they can’t find housing and childcare. We must eliminate these and other barriers to keep and attract more families and talent in our region” Sovis added.
The Charlevoix County Talent Attraction and Retention Initiative aligns with the Charlevoix County Community Foundation’s priorities of job creation and economic vitality by supporting long-term economic resilience and helping ensure local employers have access to the workforce they need to thrive.
