Lakestate Industries moves and expands

A Marquette-area business celebrates its new location and an increased ability to help many U.P. residents find work.

Lakestate Industries recently moved its Marquette County office from US-41 in Marquette Township to M-28 in Harvey. The Lake Superior Community Partnership held a ribbon-cutting this afternoon. Lakestate is a private nonprofit serving residents with intellectual and physical disabilities “by working in our shop, (by serving on) mobile crews,” Lakestate Industries business development officer and community engagement manager Shelby Bischoff said. “We have lawnmowing crews; we have cleaning crews. We do confidential document destruction.”

The larger facility will allow Lakestate to eventually open a cafe, as well as a gift shop similar to one the agency already has in Escanaba. The new home will mean new jobs as well.

“We’re growing; we’re creating jobs,” Bischoff said. “(The longer we’re around,) the more jobs we create for our workers and the folks that we employ with disabilities. Another thing I’d like to add is that we are expanding to the homeless and the veteran population as well, some of which are one and the same.”

Lakestate Industries is headquartered in Escanaba and has served the U.P. for more than 40 years. The agency is inviting anyone who wants to know more about what they do to come pay them a visit.