Housing and Staffing Top Business Concerns in Northern Michigan
Nov. 5, 2026
Housing and staffing remain the most pressing challenges for businesses in northern Michigan, according to the latest Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) Economic Pulse Report.
NLEA, a non-profit economic development organization serving Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties, releases periodic Economic Pulse Reports based on surveys of business leaders and public officials.
Key Findings:
- Housing and staffing are top barriers: 79% of surveyed business leaders identified each as a major concern, a significant increase from 56% and 67% in the spring.
- Staffing shortages have a significant economic impact: Employers facing staffing shortages indicate they could hire 272 more workers and generate an additional $107.8 million in revenue over the next two years if they had a fully staffed workforce.
- Local governments prioritize workforce housing: 61% of local officials cited workforce housing as the type of development they most want to see, up from 50% in the spring.
- Businesses seeking expansion face limited space: 46% plan to expand within four years, but business park space is nearly full. In response, NLEA secured a $60,000 EDA grant for a regional manufacturing site readiness study.
[Click here to review the entire report.](insert link here)