Leelanau Businesses Surveyed to Inform Future Economic Foundations Initiatives

In 2016, the newly formed Leelanau Peninsula Economic Foundation (LPEF) surveyed businesses and agri-businesses in Leelanau County to determine their primary concerns and needs for continued success and sustainability.  The survey results informed initiatives that LPEF has worked on over the past 7 years.

Jim Bardenhagen, LPEF President, noted that in its role as a successful change-making institution LPEF, in collaboration with its partner organizations, helped create solutions to challenging problems that impact both businesses and the community.  “We are pleased to see our collective efforts achieve success in finding workable solutions addressing the issues of housing, workforce, expansion of high speed internet services, and increased quality childcare capacity over the last few years,” said Bardenhagen, “but there is much more work to do on these issues.”

According to Patricia Soutas-Little, LPEF Chairperson and Executive Director, while LPEF continues to work collaboratively with other organizations, local and state government, the Foundation wants to ensure their work continues to focus on the current needs and concerns of our community and businesses.

To help identify those relevant needs, LPEF created a new survey and once again asks county business and agri-business owners and senior managers for their valued input.  Soutas-Little stated “results from the 2024 survey will guide LPEF’s work for the coming years in supporting Leelanau County businesses, agri-businesses and communities.”  

To participate in the survey paste this link in your browser:   https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7669588/LPEF-Leelanau-Business-Survey-2024, or scan the QR code below:

Funding for this survey has been made possible by grants awarded to LPEF from the Sarah A. Guzowski Memorial Foundation and the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.

LPEF is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with a mission to create collaborative opportunities to strengthen and sustain the economic vitality of our businesses and communities while being sensitive to the natural beauty of Leelanau County.