Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Board President Penny Milkey gives updates on her organization during Wednesday’s Keweenaw Alliance Breakfast.

HOUGHTON — The Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance and Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce both gave year-end summaries of their 2023 activity and previewed their priorities for 2024 at Wednesday’s monthly Keweenaw Alliance Breakfast.

KEDA’s strategic plan, reviewed in full last year, looks much the same as it did when adopted in 2015, said KEDA Executive Director Jeff Ratcliffe. The plan’s assumptions are that economies are regional, and development is a team effort, happens gradually, but entails change, Ratcliffe said.

“Our goals did not change: foster business growth, improve infrastructure, revitalize our communities, develop and attract talent, and enhance cultural and recreational opportunities,” he said.

Ratcliffe said 2023 saw continued trends towards benefit from a diverse economy and growth of manufacturing and technology in the area. The Keweenaw also continues to see an influx from remote workers or climate refugees.

Despite El Niño-related hiccups this year, the visitor economy has been robust overall, Ratcliffe said.

Ratcliffe noted some continued obstacles. SkyWest, which operates flights out of the Houghton County Memorial Airport, had tried to end service at the end of its last Essential Air Service contract. While they were signed on for another two-year contract, that will expire in 2025.

KEDA has been part of national advocacy efforts to address pilot restrictions as a way to address the pilot shortage affecting rural carriers.

The shortage of housing and childcare options also continues to be a hurdle for attracting and retaining employees.

Ratcliffe highlighted some of KEDA’s activities for economic development over the past year.

It helped apply for additional funding to reduce Hancock’s share of the cost for its new business and industrial park, and aided in $14.7 million in redevelopment projects in Hancock, Houghton and Calumet.

One 2024 project will be adding programming to support small businesses, aimed at creating new child care centers and small developers, making manufacturing more efficient and improving downtown business operations.

To address the housing shortage, KEDA will work with the Houghton County Land Bank to redevelop properties in the bank’s inventory for long-term housing.

“Right now, economic developers need to be housing developers,” Ratcliffe said. “We need to be working in that, so we are. We’ve been doing it through rehabilitation.”

It will also support the Remote Workforce Keweenaw efforts to recruit more workers to the area.

KEDA will also help in the planning process for a second crossing of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge.

The Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce also saw plenty of activity last year. The nonprofit, active since 1959, grew more than 13% to a new high of 437 members.

The group serves as a resource for businesses in Houghton and Keweenaw counties, with a focus on support, attraction and development.

It organizes the monthly breakfast presentations on community and economic development topics, which draw between 35 to 40 people a month. The same number of people attend the monthly Lunch & Learn meetings, where expert speakers give advice on topics such as business tools and networking.

Last year, the chamber held 18 ribbon-cuttings at businesses and local attractions, most recently the Lodge Luxury Suites in Hancock.

The chamber also operates the gift certificate program Keweenaw Cash, launched in 2007 to encourage shopping at local businesses. Since 2007, it has issued more than $571,449, Milkey said. For Small Business Saturday, it also distributed more than 160 coupon books with deals from 84 local businesses.

Candidates for the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce board also made short speeches in advance of Wednesday’s election, with ballots dues Wednesday afternoon. Up for election were Abbie Parker, Amanda Makela, Chad VanBennekom, Heather French, Holly Mattson, Melissa Davis and Teresa Lukkari-Trewhella.