The Sault Ste. Marie EDC (SSMEDC)
Sault Ste. Marie is an exciting PRO-BUSINESS community focused on entrepreneurial growth, economic gardening, technology industries, manufacturing, and retail success. Sault Ste. Marie continues to grow and prosper as one of the best places to live, work, and play.
The SSMEDC strives to strengthen and expand our national and international presence through missions, business referrals, and personal connections, by assisting business expansion, attraction, and retention through our alliance with collaborative partners and resources.
Lake Superior State University (LSSU)
Lake Superior State University provides a superior blend of liberal and technical studies in the natural setting on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. LSSU offers undergraduate degrees in 45 areas of study that attract students from every county in Michigan, more than a dozen states and provinces, and nine nations. LSSU is Michigan’s most personal public university emphasizing an undergraduate experience provided by a fully-qualified faculty and a dedicated staff.
Lake State was the first in the country to offer an accredited four-year Fire Science program. Students working at LSSU’s Aquatic Research Laboratory help maintain one of the finest fisheries in North America. One person can make a difference at Lake Superior State University.
The EUP Regional Planning & Development Commission (EUPRPDC)
Eastern U.P. Regional Planning & Development Commission assists EUP Counties, Townships, and communities with a variety of mapping needs. From developing maps for Master Plans and Recreation Plans to specialty projects like Zoning Districts and Addressing Maps. In addition to map creation, EUPRPDC also maintains a vast library of digital Geographic datasets.
Eastern Upper Peninsula Planning & Development office has been providing general planning support to the eastern three counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula through its many programs, projects and services and serves as a regional clearinghouse for federal and state funded programs.
The Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
The Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Downtown Development Authority was established in 1980 as the city of recognized the dangers posed by a declining downtown area, and took the first steps in correcting them. The DDA is tasked with correcting and preventing deterioration in the downtown business district, encouraging historic preservation, implementing development plans for the future, and promoting overall economic growth.
The Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Development Authority oversees two “Tax Increment Finance” authorities (TIFA), which generate revenues for downtown projects by capturing tax revenues based on the incremental increase of downtown property values over time.
The DDA also manages a “Principal Shopping District,” within the Downtown Development Authority’s geographic boundaries, which allows the DDA to undertake market research, public relations campaigns, promotions, and special events. The Principal Shopping District is funded by a two mil assessment levied on properties within the geographic district.
The Sault Ste. Marie Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is a community organization made up of business people for promotion of commercial and community interests. Chamber members pull together for the economic good of all. The Chamber’s goal is to Promote, Protect, and Improve businesses and the business climate in our community.
More about the Sault Area Chamber
Mackinac Economic Alliance (MEA)
The Alliance was formed in November 2012 as a grassroots initiative to spur economic development in Mackinac County. The organization includes representatives from the public and private sectors of Mackinac County, such as business owners, public officers, and chambers of commerce, who share a common goal of bringing jobs and economic health to an area rich in natural beauty and opportunity.
The Alliance is a public-private partnership working on economic development through initiatives to provide jobs, education, and vision for area development.
The Luce County EDC
The Luce County EDC offers industrial, commercial, and retail sites and buildings, including a 298 acre Industrial Park with available sites. They offer business startup, expansion, and location assistance, assistance with local and state regulatory issues and general business problem solving.
More about the Luce County EDC
Michigan State University Extension
MSU Extension help economic development in a number of areas. They assist with business development, entrepreneurship, food business regulation compliance, tourism and farmers markets. MSU Extension conducts research and assists in the areas of energy, fisheries and wildlife, invasive species, lakes and streams and water quality.
RPI – Regional Prosperity Initiative
Michigan has created a Regional Prosperity Initiative(RPI) to encourage local private, public and non-profit partners to create vibrant regional economies. The RPI encourages local private, public and non-profit partners to identify regionally aligned growth and investment. The Eastern UP Regional Planning and Development Commission was awarded funding through the Regional Prosperity Initiative to be used to gain greater organizational efficiencies between the Planning Commission and Workforce Development, upgrade video conferencing technology within the Region, development of a Community Economic Development Assistance Plan and the development of a singular Regional Prosperity 5-Year Economic Strategy, focused on the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
More information on Michigan’s Prosperity Regions
Bay Mills Community College (BMCC)
Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) is located on the southeastern shore of Lake Superior within the Bay Mills Indian Community (BMIC) approximately 17 miles west of Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As Michigan’s first fully accredited, tribally controlled college, BMCC meets the educational needs of a wide variety of students through its remote, rural Main Campus, West Campus, Waishkey Bay Farm site, off-campus sites, and online courses. Control is vested in a Board of Regents, which elects the officers of the Board and establishes overall institutional policy. BMCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.
