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Bay Future | Bay Future Focus: September 2023

September 12, 2023

Michigan Business Network

President & CEO’s Message

As I hope you have seen, read, and heard, Bay Future, Inc. has recently had the good fortune to announce significant capital investment in economic development projects in Bay County. But we can stop there! We are focused on keeping the momentum going as our team and partners, working together, ensure we build a foundation for additional investment for years (and generations) to come.

These investments and projects don’t happen overnight. They take months, and sometimes years, of planning, partnership, and collaboration. It is due, in part, to our core and routine activities, namely: business retention visits, site readiness and preparation, identifying targeted industries, pitch competitions, informational and educational workshops, marketing campaigns, and building relationships with industry in Bay County and beyond, that these investments come to fruition.

While we are in the midst of making major announcements on some of the economic development projects we are working on, the foundation above is the groundwork we continue to lay for future growth and future projects.

A great example of this is in the partnerships and stories chronicled in each issue of Bay Future Focus. As you will read in the pages below, our Featured Event this month is the regionally focused Emerging Developer Roadshow. Bay Future, Inc., our economic development partners in the region, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation worked together to bring this learning and educational opportunity to developers from the region to Downtown Bay City. This event will aim to provide resources and access to industry experts to those emerging developers taking on some of the most complicated and most critical community rehabilitation projects in our community. Therefore, quite literally, working to build and rehabilitate the foundation of our community.

We are thankful that the developers and the businesses who see the value in our community have made the decision to invest their dollars here. It’s because of these businesses that there are quality jobs for our community’s residents and future residents. They are the foundation in which future efforts can be built.

I’m looking forward to the continued growth of business and industry within our community and to sharing exciting future investment news with you soon!

Happy reading,

-Trevor Keyes, EDFP

President & CEO

Bay Future, Inc.

Featured Content

Peters Stops in Bay City on Annual Motorcycle Tour

We are greatly appreciative of Senator Gary Peters of Michigan’s work in Washington D.C. (along with Senator Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Dan Kildee) to enact the bipartisan infrastructure law – and secure the $73 million in federal funding to reconstruct the 85-year-old Lafayette Street Bridge. The funding allocated in the infrastructure law, provides a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation and our community’s infrastructure and competitiveness. A needed boost in our collective efforts to attract jobs and residents to our community!

“This is a game-changing federal investment that will both repair and upgrade the Lafayette Street bridge to ensure it remains operational for residents, workers, and businesses for years to come,” said Senator Peters.

“The workers and businesses of our communities – from small businesses to manufacturers to health care organizations – all rely on strong, safe, resilient infrastructure,” said Trevor Keyes, President & CEO of Bay Future, Inc. “We thank Senator Peters for diligently working to secure these sorely needed federal resources to upgrade a critical piece of infrastructure in our Bay County community that supports long-term economic growth throughout our region.”

Read Press Release

Pictured above from L to R: US Senator Gary Peters, President & CEO of Bay Future, Inc. Trevor Keyes, 6th Ward City of Bay City Commissioner Chris Girard, and Bay County Road Commission Chairman Bill Schumacher.

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Pictured below from L to R: Economic Development Manager of Bay Future, Inc. Jim Reaume, US Senator Gary Peters, and President & CEO of Bay Future, Inc. Trevor Keyes.

Questions about this project?

What is the timeline for the Lafayette Bridge project? Start to finish?

April 15, 2024 – December 30, 2026. Expedited project – 6 day work week (Mon-Saturday).

What will the project look like:

Milling and Resurfacing of Wenona Street and Henry Street detour.
Roadway reconstruction Evergreen Drive/Lions Club Lane west from the bridge over the west channel/middling grounds through the intersection east Water St/Webster St/M-13&M-84.
Bridge will provide a 150ft channel opening for navigation. Approximately 22′ above the water when closed at midspan. Cross section of bridge will include two 12′ lanes and 2′ shoulders. A 5’2″ sidewalk on one side and a 8′ shared use path on the other.
Operators house will have stainless steel siding.

Overall costs/breakdown for the project?

$107 Million Total

Road/Other – $5M
Structure – $88M
Construction Oversight – $14M

Any special challenges that a project like this can have?

Demolition of existing structure.
Timing of demolition to be during reduced shipping traffic and removal of footings from the river.
Specialized components have long lead times of 12-18 months.

Why is this project being done/why is it necessary?

The current bridge was built in 1938. It is an 85 year old aging substructure. The mechanical, electrical, and structural items require increased maintenance and inspection to ensure the structure is operating safely and efficiently.

How will MDOT handle potentially increased traffic on Vets Bridge during the Lafayette closure?

Traffic detours will utilize North/South traffic M-13 & Wenona St/Henry Street west of the river to east/west M-25 and M-84 north/south east of the river.

Millions in investments in Bay County with hundreds of new jobs created this summer

“It’s been a hot summer and investments in Bay County have been heating up, as well.

In the past few months, tens of millions of dollars in business investments have been made with hundreds of new jobs created. Four projects in particular making waves, and officials say that momentum is expected to keep going…”