A few are poised to grow. Others are maintaining the status quo. Among the employers urgently hiring right now across the county: 9 Bean Rows, Hop Lot Brewing Co., Dick’s Pour House, The Narrows Yacht Club, Poppy Things, Refuge Salon, Dave’s Garage, and Leelanau Children’s Center.

“I think the better question is, who isn’t hiring,” says Michelle Socha, NW Michigan Works! business services representative. “There is such a variety of industries and companies hiring, from Cherry Republic — including professional openings; to Medilodge of Suttons Bay; to local wineries — Amoritas Winery and Shady Lane Cellars, for example; to Leelanau Redi-Mix, to Leelanau County and the Leelanau Road Commission, to Idyll Farms, Deering Tree Service, Anderson’s Market, Art’s Tavern, Stander Marina, Leland Public Schools…and on and on. They are all in the same boat and competing for the same thing — employees.”

 “We are hearing that people NEED help,” agrees Leelanau Chamber of Commerce Business Development Consultant Jamie Jewell.

Among those seeking employees is Dick’s Pour House Co-Owner Ron Plamondon. “We have been lucky. We are open in-house at reduced capacity and are doing curbside takeout. The jobs we are hiring for, with the exception of a seasonal host position, all are year-round positions.” 

He says both foot traffic — the pedestrian bridge is now open on one side at The Narrows — and boat traffic have been up in Lake Leelanau. But this summer he is staffed with a very lean core crew, and that, “paired with the fact we have gone from 20 percent takeout to over half our business as takeout, is at times is more than we can handle in our small kitchen.”

As a first in Dick’s Pour House history — which goes back to 1935 — “we have decided to close on Sundays so staff can have a day off.” Another first for Plamondon: on Saturday, August 8, he closed for the day entirely, due to a staff shortage. “I felt it was better to close than have a bunch of agitated customers,” he says.

Losing peak summer business due to a staffing issue is a heartbreak at best, and, as our sister publication The Ticker reported this week, Plamondon is not alone.

Socha explains the reasons candidates aren't applying: “Some job seekers fear of the risk of contracting COVID-19, contingent on the job (is it front-line kind of work?), and since many take care of their children or another family member, they are hesitating to go out and look for work.”

“The other reason is the Federal Pandemic Unemployment benefits that many employees were receiving. Those benefits stopped on July 31st. Now employers and many job seekers are awaiting the details on the new executive order that was signed by President Trump, which will extend those Federal Pandemic Unemployment benefits ($400 a week) as well as roll out some kind of payroll tax return.”

As part of her job at NW Michigan Works!, Socha says she often coaches employers on how to make their job posting more enticing so that it will draw candidates.

“Wage range should be included, based on experience. Perhaps the earning potential could be higher than the starting wage if they indicate that employees earn tips. Employers should also show what company perks they offer, as well as sharing what COVID-19 safety protocols they have in place. It’s also wise to mention if some of the duties can be performed remotely, which is a hot topic right now,” she says.

“I also need to let an employer know if their wages don’t meet the averages for our Northwest region. I provide local labor market information based on job titles for our Northwest lower peninsula counties, which helps the employer see where they come in, compared to the average wages for the same job.”

And certainly, seasonal staff attrition has always a factor for Leelanau County employers. But what is new this year — and contributing to the current need for employees — is that while summer employees are heading back to school and other non-Leelanau locales, the clients that they serve are sticking around.

Says The Narrows Yacht Club Owner Hilary Larkin, “We see 20-50 boats a day for fuel, and with maybe five people on each boat, we talk to a lot of people. People are hanging out longer this year. Especially those with a second house — they are staying here until things quiet down.”

Three of Larkin’s summer staffers left to return to school, so he is now hiring to refill those positions, and expects the yacht club to be busy right though the fall. 

Ditto at Hop Lot Brewing Co. Co-Founder Drew Lutke says, “we are hiring front of house and kitchen, looking for people who would like a full-time job or part-time supplemental gig through fall and winter.”

Jen Welty, co-owner at 9 Bean Rows in Suttons Bay, says seasonal residents arriving earlier than normal in March gave an initial boost to their farm market and bakery business, that hasn’t tapered off as customers continue to source their food hyper-locally amid COVID-19. She says she is ready to hire a full-time retail manager who can oversee all food and farm products sold through the market and the wood-fired oven cafe. She also is seeking a night baker, so she herself can focus on other aspects of the business for the first time in the company’s eleven years.

Also hiring in order to redirect focus is Chelsey Skowronski of Poppy Things. Her shop in Suttons Bay is in the midst of its first summer open. “I am hiring now...my deadline for applying is Monday, August 17,” says Skowronski. “I have been extremely busy — people seem happy to be out and to shop local. I am looking for an assistant manager to help me run the shop while I get back to doing what I do best. I’ll still be in the shop but will be more focused on my making.”

At Dave’s Garage in Empire, Co-Owner Craig Olvey says “business has reached some sense of ‘normal’ again and we are growing.” Olvey is currently looking for a full-time automotive tech, whom he is willing to train: “We have had success in the past growing our own technician in a mentor program.” 

Says Charynn Meoak, whose Refuge Salon, along with its sister business Refuge Salvage Works, opened its doors in Suttons Bay in May despite many unknowns: “We have no regrets. We’re proud of our little shop/salon and so grateful for the amazing community that we have. I think people are excited to have an Aveda salon in Leelanau County, and they’re happy they don’t have to drive into TC...we constantly have a wait list. So we are hiring stylists. The only thing that is prohibiting us from growing right now is the staffing issue.”

Correction: A previous version of this article had Ron Plamondon's first name listed as Ray.