Marty Fittante has served as the CEO of InvestUP since 2019 and has grown the investment base of the organization by over 150%; secured the only Enhancement Grant given to an economic development organization as part of the State of Michigan’s 2023 budget, resulting in $15 million being devoted to the region’s strategic priorities; was appointed by the MEDC as the fiduciary of $7.2 million in pandemic assistance grants; and recently helped lead the strategy and advocacy, including building a coalition of 19 state stakeholders, to secure a $200 million state business development incentive that anchored the largest private sector investment $1.09 billion) ever made in the Upper Peninsula. From the $15 million devoted to the region’s strategic priorities, Marty lead the creation and launch of Build U.P., a housing fund to help fast-tract high impact shovel-ready housing projects across the entire U.P. to address the immediate need for housing and to provide the region with a long-term, sustainable fund to solve future housing challenges. Marty was also most recently appointed by Governor Whitmer to the Growing Michigan Together Council as co-chair of the Job, Talent, People Workgroup to bring a voice to the issues and opportunities in the U.P., and all rural Michigan, as they advise Governor Whitmer on specific policies to grow Michigan’s population.