L’ANSE, February 10, 2025
The Baraga County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce its support and
participation in the newly formed L’Anse Area Community Development Corporation.
Recognizing the importance of housing, and the challenges facing new housing
development in the L’Anse area, a dedicated group of local stakeholders came together
to form a housing-focused organization. Their work formulated the idea for the Western
Upper Peninsula Community Development Corporation, which is currently working
under the assumed name L’Anse Area Community Development Corporation (LACDC).
The L’Anse Area Community Development Corporation is focused on accelerating
housing development in the L’Anse area, with the goal of eventually serving the broader
Western U.P.
A Community Development Corporation, or CDC, is a non-profit, community-based
organization that brings resources, ideas, and dedicated stakeholders together to
improve the lives of people within the community. CDC activities typically include real
estate and economic development, community organizing initiatives, and more.
In 2023, the Western UP Planning & Development Region and its Baraga County
partners successfully secured a grant to establish a housing-focused organization. The
L’Anse Area CDC was established as a non-profit corporation in 2024. The Board is
composed of community and business leaders.
Ongoing work includes providing technical assistance for housing-related grants,
assessing the most needed housing types in the L’Anse area and platting potential
development sites.
For further information, opportunities and resources related to the L’Anse Area
Community Development Corporation view the website at
https://keweenawbay.org/edc/cdc/ or contact Lisa McKenzie or Tiff DeGroot at WUPPDR at
906-482-7205
About the Western U.P. Planning and Development Region:
The Western U.P. Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) is the regional
planning agency for the Western U.P. WUPPDR conducts diverse activities including
economic development planning, state transportation planning, and work related to
other grant programs such as broadband communications, energy and environment,
food systems, hazard mitigation, housing, materials management, and recreation.
WUPPDR also provides technical assistance to local governments.