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Bay Future Focus: January 2021

Picture21President & CEO’s Message

Like many of you, I too have been hopeful about and looked forward to the new year. 2020 was a challenging year in so many ways and now we begin a new year with a sense of refreshment and the ambition to set and achieve new personal and professional goals.

Our team at Bay Future, specifically, is continuing to work hard to be more impactful in the work we do every day. But, we need the valuable input and feedback from you, our investors, to do so. Please take a moment to complete this brief online survey. So that we may continue to provide our businesses and community the growth, service, and value they deserve.
 
We’ve also included the option for our supporters to contribute their investment electronically right here on our website. We hope this will enable more efficiencies for our investors and creates additional capacity for our team.
 
We’ve included exciting announcements in our newsletter today about the positive efforts that are occurring in our community. We are also sharing the message of our RECOVER Bay County addendum to the Bay Future: Drive. Forward. strategic action plan (below) again with you in our persistence to lead Bay County, alongside of many partners, back to a “pre-pandemic” economy.
 
Happy reading,
 
-Trevor Keyes, EDFP
President & CEO
Bay Future, Inc.
RECOVER Bay County
Recover Bay County
 
 
Featured Content
 
Tri-City Cheese & Meats Expands in Kawkawlin, MI
Tri-City Cheese & Meats (Troll Smokehouse) provides quality old-fashioned, hardwood-smoked meats at wholesale prices. They use only 100% USDA-inspected meats and only the finest spices to craft their products. Tri-City Cheese & Meats has had an increase in demand and decided to expand their manufacturing facility in Kawkawlin, Michigan.
 
The family owned company with 25 employees is investing $2,200,000 into a 8,600 square foot expansion. The growing product lines will require them to expand their workforce by an additional 12-20 new jobs
 
 
“We are excited about the opportunities this project brings!” said Connie Collins, CFO.
 
“We’re able to expand our offerings and better serve our customers as our company grows.
 
As a family business, we are so grateful for the support we have received from the community especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”
 
 
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) awarded a Value Added & Regional Food System grant of $99,500 to Tri-City Cheese & Meats for the expansion of USDA federal meat processing facility. Tri-City Cheese & Meats was one of nine companies selected out of 75 applicants for the 2020 grant cycle. Read more here about MDARD grants.
And just last night, the Kawkawlin Township Board of Trustees voiced their unanimous support for the expansion project by granting the company an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate. Bay Future, Inc. worked closely with the company over a 2+ year span throughout the expansion process and assisted in connecting the company with state agencies and programs, including MDARD and the Value Added Grant Program. 
 
 
Buy Local Buy BC
The total impact of both the Buy BC and Buy Local Buy BC gift card stimulus programs is over $233,000 to the 80 participating small businesses.
 
A percentage of those funds comes from the incentive created by program sponsors (shown below), while the rest is in thanks to the support of community members in spending their dollars locally.
 
This time, Buy Local Buy BC, sold out in less than one month. In large part, thanks to the Consumers Energy “Our Town” promotion which caught the attention of community members quickly. Read more about the Our Town program here.
 
Featured Event
 
Starting at Zero Film Screen & Panel Discussion
 
Starting at Zero explores the power of investing in high-quality early childhood education so that all children and families have the opportunity to attain the American Dream.
January 15, 2021
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
 
Virtual Event: Screening followed by a panel discussion

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