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Bay Future | Bay Future Focus: February 2024

08.21.19 -- BayFutureDriveForward.

Bay Future Board of Directors & Staff Message

At Bay Future, we believe in the power of resilience and growth. We understand that progress requires pushing ourselves beyond our limits, embracing challenges, and enduring discomfort. Just as the weightlifter must lift enough weight to cause muscle tissue damage, and the runner runs miles enduring soreness, stress and discomfort enable gains in speed, strength, and endurance.

The Board of Directors and staff for Bay Future recognize that our community, like the weightlifter and the runner, must face challenges head-on in order to achieve long-lasting growth and success. We are committed to creating an environment that encourages resilience, fosters innovation, and empowers individuals and businesses to achieve their full potential.

We understand that in order to create meaningful change, we must embrace discomfort, challenge conventional thinking, and take calculated risks. We are dedicated to providing support, resources, and opportunities that help our community members and businesses grow stronger, faster, and more resilient.

Just as the weightlifter’s damaged muscle tissue heals and becomes stronger, we believe that by facing challenges and working through discomfort, our community will become more resilient, adaptive, and capable of achieving great things. Together, we can build a future that is resilient, prosperous, and dynamic.

Join us on this journey to fuel growth, embrace challenges, and transform our community into a beacon of strength and opportunity. Together, we can overcome obstacles and achieve the extraordinary.

PRESS RELEASE: Over $4 Million Grant Awarded in Bay County to Accelerate Site Readiness in Michigan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) last week in announcing approval of $87.5 million in grant funding for 18 projects across the state of Michigan through the Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) to support efforts to compete for and win transformative economic development projects.

Through this funding for strategic site readiness and collaboration with local, regional and energy partners, communities across Michigan will experience increased economic development opportunities to support in their business development efforts. 

Bay Future, Inc., in partnership with Monitor Township, prepared and submitted a successful grant application for the program, totaling an award of $4,161,500.

Applications for the grants were accepted from September 18th to October 30th, 2023. The MEDC received over 70 applications totaling $420 million in requested funding – more than four times the SSRP allocation – further demonstrating the significant need for advancing site readiness in the state of Michigan.

Funding was awarded in nine of the state’s 10 prosperity regions, representing at least one grant for every region that submitted applications. To read more regarding the SSRP program and projects, sites, and communities that were funded, follow the link here: https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2024/01/ssrp/.

“On behalf of Monitor Township, I am thrilled with the announcement of funding from the MEDC Strategic Site Readiness Program for the 3 Mile Road and Wilder Road site,” said Terry Spencer, Supervisor of Monitor Township. “This crucial funding will pave the way for the creation of development-ready sites, creating new opportunities for businesses to flourish and grow. As a township with limited resources, this support is a significant step forward. This will go a long way in making our area as competitive as possible not just for Monitor Township but for our neighboring communities as well.”

“Bringing infrastructure to this site is critical,” said Donald Scherzer, Executive Vice President at Spicer Group, Inc. “Infrastructure improvements include increasing utility capacity to the site. The Strategic Site Readiness Program has come at a perfect time to aid in this process. The SSRP award will support infrastructure improvements that are necessary in attracting new investment dollars not only to this site but surrounding areas.”  

“This award shows that our region is a prime place for big economic development, and that’s great news for our residents and businesses,” said State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet (35th District). “I’m proud to support this project that will dedicate millions of dollars to boost Bay County’s local economy with infrastructure jobs, and position Monitor Township to win more private investment and job-creating projects.”

“I want to express my appreciation to the MEDC for providing the funding to help Bay Future and Monitor Township improve site readiness for the 3 Mile and Wilder Road Site. This money will go a long way in making Bay County and the Great Lakes Bay Region more attractive to investment,” said State Representative Timmy Beson (96th District).

“Bay County is a hub for high tech and manufacturing jobs, and we are proud of that legacy,” said Bay County Executive, Jim Barcia. “Development of these parcels is a tremendous opportunity in attracting more businesses to Monitor Township and Bay County.”

“Development on this site has been in the works since 2017,” said Jim Lillo, Engineer-Manager of the Bay County Road Commission. “All of us who were at the table from the very beginning are elated to see this funding come to Bay County. This award shows that vision and hard work can yield tremendous results.”

Monitor Township receives $4.1 million for infrastructure, site preparation at 3 Mile, Wilder roads

 

Brownfield, greenfield sites receiving $87.5M in funding for investment preparation

 

Community Partner Spotlight

President of the Bay City NAACP- Meet Darold Newton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKIw4hpZ5n4

 

“Caring changes lives, it transforms lives, and it can make a difference. If the community truly cares, we have to interact and share. There’s more that binds us than separates us. It’s about harmony, community unity, and enjoying life, making the best of the time we have on this earth.”

-Darold Newton, President of the NAACP Bay City Branch

Featured Program – Workforce & Skills Development

Great Lakes Bay Job Fair

delta

Save the date

When: Thursday, April 11, 1-3pm

Where: Delta College Main Campus, Pioneer Gym

The Great Lakes Bay Job Fair is a partnership between Delta College, the Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!, the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity – Michigan Rehabilitation Services & Workforce Development – Veterans’ Employment Services , and the 

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