In Partnership With

Voice. Knowledge. Connection. Michiganworks.org #MIWorks

Bay Future Focus: December 2020

December 14, 2020

Michigan Business Network

President & CEO’s Message

As we continue through this challenging year and holiday season, I would like to continue focusing on practicing gratitude and thankfulness. The reality of our current situation, from the perspective of nation health and economic distress, can be severely overwhelming and casts significant amounts of uncertainty, doubt, and fear. My prayers go out to those who have, and continue to, experience loss and suffering. We will get through this season of change and will emerge from it stronger, smarter, and more sustainable.

I am thankful we have access to world-class healthcare institutions, like McLaren Bay Region, Covenant Healthcare, and MidMichigan Health, who employ resilient, skilled, and fierce front-line workers that are working nonstop to care for our community.

I am thankful for creative new media endeavors like Hey Bay City! that tell the story of our community. For regional partners and companies who work together to attract and retain talent.

For businesses, like SC Johnson, who take what they have and put it back into their communities in order to truly impact them, for the better. For funding opportunities for the small businesses who need it most. And for local businesses who step up to provide funds to engage community members to Buy Local Buy BC.

I am thankful for the Bay Future: Drive. Forward. Investors who believe in the work we are doing and support us so we can execute our mission, vision, and strategic action plan through every initiative we take on.

Whatever struggles you are facing this holiday season, I encourage you to count your blessings. Please be a part of the solution and follow safety guidelines. Please spend your dollars locally. And please offer a helpful hand where it is needed. ‘Tis the season.

Happy Holidays and stay safe,

-Trevor Keyes, EDFP

President & CEO

Bay Future, Inc.

Featured Content

Buy Local Buy BC

To support small businesses in Bay County, Michigan, together with the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, we have brought back the Buy BC gift card stimulus program! This time the program is being branded as “Buy Local Buy BC” to emphasize the importance of shopping local this holiday season and to support our Bay County economy as businesses experience additional limitations.

Here’s how the program works… The consumer selects a gift card to the business of their choice. Buy Local Buy BC will add an additional 25% of the purchase price to the card and the program will then give the full value to the business. Basically, you spend $20 and Buy Local Buy BC adds $5, covers the associated fees and gives the business $25 for each card sold. Gift cards can be purchased here.

This program is only possible because of the generous donations made by 1st State Bank, Bay County Growth Alliance, Huntington National Bank, HYMMCO, LLC., Independent Bank, Michigan Sugar, and Weinlander Fitzhugh.

Featured Event

Hey Bay City!

Hey, Bay City! You’re a pretty awesome place filled with some pretty awesome people, so it’s time for a podcast: The “Hey, Bay City!” podcast!

First episodes are live this week!

Listen to host Phil Eich chat with BFI’s own Trevor Keyes airing December 16th!

Where to listen:

Facebook: Storyville Social

Apple: https://bit.ly/HeyBCApple

Spotify: https://bit.ly/HeyBCSpotify

Coming Home

The recent Discover Great Lakes Bay Coming Home virtual hiring event, held November 23, 2020, connected more than 146 registered young professionals, who are currently in the region or have left and are interested in coming home, with 25 world class regional employers.

The Discover Great Lakes Bay Talent Initiative is a collaboration made up of economic development organizations from Arenac, Bay, Clare, Isabella, Gladwin, Gratiot, Midland and Saginaw Counties.

For more information visit: http://discovergreatlakesbay.com/coming-home/

Investor Spotlight

SC Johnson

SC Johnson launched a “20 Days of Giving” campaign, which will donate a total of $400,000 over 20 days across 20 organizations in 5 states with ties to communities in which the company operates.

The donations are directed at providing pathways to greater economic and social mobility for underserved people and to help organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bay City, MI is one of 5 communities nationally that will be included in the campaign. Read more about this imitative or follow along on social media #20DaysofGiving!

Thank you SC Johnson for giving back during these challenging times and for you investment in Bay Future, Inc.!

Program Highlight

NEW Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative

The Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative will utilize federal CARES Act funding to provide $10 million in grants to meet the urgent need of Michigan small businesses disproportionately impacted the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020.

Grant Information for Small Businesses

The grant application for small businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business on a “first-in” basis. Grant funds will assist eligible small businesses directly impacted by COVID-19 meet urgent working capital needs including payroll expenses, rent or mortgage payments and utility expenses in the following industries: