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Bay Future | Bay Future Focus: August 2023

August 8, 2023

Michigan Business Network

President & CEO’s Message

In the theme of last month’s newsletter, we are pleased to announce additional economic development projects in our community, HOT off the presses!

Last week we had the opportunity to share the announcement of Vantage Plastics investing $31 Million to rehabilitate an obsolete property in Bangor Township while creating an additional 93 jobs!

So far this year we have had the good fortune of celebrating the announcement of 7 economic development projects, resulting in over $326 Million of capital investment and over 250 new jobs!

It is our pleasure and primary focus as Bay County’s leading economic development organization to work diligently to attract companies and to work alongside our existing businesses through our retention efforts to assist them in growth through expansion projects.

Since our inception nearly 20 years ago, our core purpose has remained the same- to aid Bay County’s economy and to assist businesses in creating quality jobs for our community residents. We are grateful and blessed that these companies and projects have chosen to call Bay County “home”.

Happy reading,

-Trevor Keyes, EDFP

President & CEO

Bay Future, Inc.

Featured Content

INVESTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Vantage Plastics Investing $31 Million and Creating 93 Jobs in Bangor Township

Vantage Plastics, headquartered in Standish, is experiencing significant growth, especially in the automotive supply chain, and plans to expand into an existing facility in Bangor Township, where it will add manufacturing and warehousing space. The project is expected to result in a total capital investment of $30.9 million and create 93 jobs.

Not only is this project supporting the creation of 93 new jobs in our community, but the economic impact of this job creation is also producing at nearly a 2 times multiplier, adding 32 indirect jobs (not including construction) and 41 induced jobs, or jobs that are created by the additional personal spend by both direct and indirect workers. When you add construction trades on the project, that’s close to 200 jobs being created.

Vantage Plastics purchased and will be rehabilitating 4675 Wilder Rd. This once thriving 325,000-square-foot building has long been available in our community, sitting in obsolescence and deteriorating for more than a decade. This is a rehabilitation and transformation for this industrial parcel, one that will bring back jobs and manufacturing to the site and one that will transform the lives and families of those workers who have the skills and expertise to be hired and to work there.

Read Press Release

Rehabilitation has begun on the property along with production to satisfy urgent demands by customers. Vantage Plastics is working with contractors on building plans and removing unnecessary infrastructure and cleaning of the property. Hiring for the site has started. For more information visit https://www.vantageplastics.com/careers/

Mersen USA Expanding in Bay City

Last month, we had the opportunity to share the announcement of Mersen USA investing more than $70 million and creating over 70 new jobs in Bay City! We also had the opportunity to match the visiting Mersen Board of Directors from France, including Chief Executive Officer, Luc Themelin, with leaders from our community and the State of Michigan. The photo below marks the occasion, taken at the Bay City Facility (900 Harrison St.) including Bay Future, Inc. President & CEO, Trevor Keyes, City of Bay City Manager, Dana Muscott, and Mersen- Bay City General Manager, Brian Blakeley, leaders from the State of Michigan, including Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) Senior Vice President of Regional Prosperity, Matt McCauley and MEDC Region 5 Senior Business Development Manager, Brenda Flory.

Michigan Economic Development Guide Launched

Features New Investment in the Great Lakes Bay Region 5

Great Lakes Bay Region 5 is an economic development partnership that covers Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw Counties. The county-wide and multi-countywide economic development organizations collaborate on talent attraction and retention, site location, asset development, business attraction and more.

Recently, the Michigan Economic Development Guide was introduced by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in partnership with Site Selection Magazine. The publication makes the business case for locating a new investment in Michigan through testimonials, data and innovative success stories that can only be found in the mitten state.

Our Great Lakes Bay Region 5 was featured in the publication and is leading the way for semiconductor supply chain and electric vehicle development in Michigan with recent investments totaling $726 million. Bay City’s General Motors was included in the list of Top 25 Projects of 202

The presence in the publication is part of a regional business attraction initiative, launched by six economic development organizations that represent more than a half million people. The middle eastern portion of Michigan was branded Great Lakes Bay. Michigan. Centered. The objectives of the plan are to secure investment in targeted industries by promoting regional assets to decision-makers of companies through a process called site selection as well as engage key stakeholders within the community to accentuate the benefits of doing business here.

Region 5 has collaborated to develop and produce a variety of materials to market our region and to solidify business attraction processes and marketing in a cohesive effort. Another aspect of that includes identifying targeted industries that could be best supported in terms of natural resources, geographic location, workforce, and available infrastructure. The regional industries identified are advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, and healthcare.

Each of the eight counties has experienced unique successes over the past year, and each county has its own unique attributes in terms of population, talent, and industry legacy. While the counties in the region all have similar resources in common, they also all have the same goals, to continue to grow the local economy by creating jobs and supporting capital investment.