President & CEO's Message
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Bay County comes to life in the summertime! And after months of indoor imprisonment by less than favorable weather, this summer will be no different.
Whether it is recreational activities at the Bay City State Park or Downtown Bay City concerts and entertainment, serene and still evenings enjoying the solace and nature along the Saginaw Bay and Saginaw River, to matching power, force, and intensity of Formula One Powerboat Racing, there is summer fun for everyone, every night of the week, in the City by the Bay.
As our community becomes busier in the coming months, it is important to remember that much of this activity is perpetuated by visitors and guests from outside of our community. Whenever meeting a visitor or guest please remember to welcome them appropriately to our town. We should welcome them with open arms and show them what a great community we have. We should welcome them with kind words, sharing with them local history and helpful local knowledge. We should welcome them in the way we wish to be welcomed when visiting a new town or city. We should all hold each other to the high standard of being positive goodwill ambassadors, especially as we welcome them to the many concerts, festivals, and celebrations, our community has become well-known for. That includes taking pride in our community, in volunteering to serve our community and support these locally produced events, and to display that well-mannered type of Midwestern charm and hospitality that we have also become so well-known for.
At Bay Future, Inc. one of our main tactics for success as a part of our strategic action plan is to market Bay County as a place to live and do business. Not only to attract business and the talented professionals of tomorrow but to highlight the economic impact festivals like the Tri-Annual Tall Ship Celebration can have on a community. 100,000 visitors, on average, have attended the four-day festival in Bay City providing an economic impact to our local economy of more than $8 million.
An example of our efforts can be seen below:
We truly believe we live in an amazing community, and work toward keeping it that way, which is why economic development efforts to stimulate capital investment and job creation are so vitally important. We are focused on marketing Bay County for our community’s future.
I hope you enjoy this first month of summer and please remember to take pride in our home and embrace our new visitors!
Happy reading,
-Trevor Keyes, EDFP
President & CEO
Bay Future, Inc.
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A route is a connection between where we've been and where we want to go.
The route Bay City is on is one firmly rooted in a path forged by people looking for a way forward: entrepreneurs looking for a place to earn a living, families looking for a place to grow, and people looking for a place to call home. It's a path full of grit, history, and community. Through its ups and downs, booms and busts, Bay City has always had at its heart people who love this region and want to help it succeed.
The heart is growing. Now more than ever, the people of the Bay region are trying to connect with their past while building their future. They are looking for more than just a place to live - they want to belong to a place. They're working hard to move into the future without losing sight on where we're from.
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Bangor Township DDA
The Bangor Twp. Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has been at the heart of many development projects in the township since its establishment in 1989 and has fostered investment in Bay County’s second highest populated community with an economic impact that can be felt throughout Bay County and the Great Lakes Bay Region.
“Not sure any of us realized in 1989 the impact the Bangor DDA would have on the Township and Bay County,” said Ken Lange, Bangor Twp. DDA Board Chair (1989 – 2016). “Our goal was to build a mall. To see what has come next with the Shrestha Commercial Park and the Civic Arena has been remarkable.”
The completion of the Bay City Mall, now known as the Bay City Town Center, in 1994, not only brought shoppers and retail to the new building, but to its out lots and surrounding area. Soon, commercial retail giants Walmart, Home Depot, Red Lobster, Bob Evans, along with a number of additional shopping centers invested and located near the mall, multiplying the local economic impact.
Fueled by the excitement and success of the new development, Dr. Dhana Shrestha sought out the Bangor Twp. DDA to partner with him on another dynamic development. By 1996, this partnership provided infrastructure in the form of a new road, utilities, water, and sewer to a 20-acre business park. To date, all the lots in the park have occupants with construction on the final business project slated for completion in 2020 with ground to be broken later this year.
This partnership also resulted in the home and financial support for the newly constructed Bay County Civic Arena.
“It’s hard to believe Shrestha Drive is now home to the Civic Arena, brewery and a number of medical offices that serve as destinations which bring people to the area.” said Dr. Lee Newton, Bangor Twp. DDA Board Chair .
It is estimated that approximately 75,000 people visit the Civic Arena annually. “Without the Downtown Development Authority, the Civic Arena may not have been a reality,” said Joseph Rivet, former Bangor Township Supervisor, “The Arena attracts users from across the region to the Wilder Road corridor.”
The success of the Bangor Twp. DDA has created a larger tax base and new revenue to support Bay County units of government. The tax base has grown by over $23 Million in the development area since 1989.
The DDA Board is now looking to the future to identify the next opportunity to grow the community and to generate new investment.
“The Township Board, Downtown Development Authority and area businesses are excited to see what’s next,” said Newton. Newton shared the Bangor Twp. DDA Board is beginning to work with the Township and the County on a new development plan which will be shared with the community over the coming months.
To learn more about the Bangor Township Development Authority, please contact Board Chair Lee Newton or Bangor Township Supervisor Glenn Rowley at (989) 684-8931.
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Bay Area “Pitch” Competition
Put Your Ideas to the Test!
Bay City—
Make it happen with the Pitch a Dream premier business competition on
November 12, 2019. Have an idea, looking to start a business, or maybe you have already started a business, this opportunity could bring you to the next level. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to win over $25,000 worth of cash and prizes to further the start-up or growth of their company and help bring their business dreams to reality in the Bay Area.
There are two ways to be involved:
1. You can be a corporate sponsor which will help to launch these exciting new businesses with the guidance of our partners Central Michigan University Research Corporation (CMURC), The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, and Bay Future. Here is a link to see how to become one of our sponsors.
http://mipitchadream.com/sponsors/
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2. You can also submit to be a “Pitch” applicant. Applicants must be an early-stage company based in or have a principal location in Bay County, have less than $1M private sector investments & less than $2.5M revenue in last 12 months. To begin the process, click the link
http://mipitchadream.com/form/
by deadline of July 11th.
Pitch a Dream with its combination of partners and sponsors has the goal of bringing business dreams to a reality in the Bay Area.
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Going PRO Talent Fund
The Going PRO Talent Fund (Talent Fund), formerly known as the Skilled Trades Training Fund, makes awards to employers to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training funded by the Talent Fund must be short-term and fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer. Training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry.
Program Statistics 2014-2019
- Total Number of Awards: 3,136
- Average Award Amount: $31,548
- Average Training Cost Per Person: $1,062
Size of Employers Receiving Going PRO
Talent Fund Awards 2014-2019
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Now is a great time to begin engaging with Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! to discuss training plans for 2020 and the application process!
For more information contact
Sheril Tarrant,
Director of Business Services & Community Relations
(989) 577-0306
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City of Bay City
Bay City holds the county seat. This riverfront community has a legacy of manufacturing and is known for its small town charm and big city amenities. Learn more about Downtown Bay City!
Population: 32,902
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Charter Township of Bangor
Bangor Township sits on the entry point for the Saginaw and Kawkawlin Rivers. It has the largest population of all the Bay County Townships, with a 2010 census
population of 14,641.
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Williams Township
Williams Township is a rural area with many farms but it is also a bedroom community for the many people employed in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Williams Township has had significant development within the last few years with the creation of a business park.
Population: 4,817
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