Traverse Connect conducted its second 2026 Business Growth Barometer Survey of investor and member businesses to provide a snapshot of our regional business sentiment, outlook, and current challenges. Quarterly surveys inform the organization’s strategic priorities and help it respond to the needs of the business community.

Ninety-six percent of respondents agree that the Grand Traverse region is a good place to grow their business, maintaining the positive trend since the summer of 2025. Respondents’ sentiment about an improving business environment rose to 87%, up 6 points from the previous quarter.

The report also details how sentiment toward the greatest barriers to growth has shifted as we enter peak summer tourism season. Read more for Traverse Connect’s accomplishments from the second quarter and events scheduled for July through September.

→ Come out and celebrate the achievements of Traverse Connect’s member businesses with ribbon cuttings this month: Nocturnal Bloom Brewing. Meet new businesses in town and celebrate with special deals, refreshments, networking, and more! 

→ 20Fathoms announced local entrepreneur Stacey Feeley as its new executive director at a TCNewTech pitch event last week.

→ Traverse City voters will decide the future of downtown’s biggest funding tool, the Infrastructure First tax increment financing plan, this November.

→ Business leaders hope a childcare model piloted in Leelanau County could provide massive relief in the region’s ongoing childcare crisis.

→ The Sarah Hardy Farmers Market has relocated to Rotary Square for the remainder of the summer and will operate there through the last weekend of October. 

→ Munson Medical Center earned three national stroke care honors for its consistent and timely treatment of stroke patients.

→ The Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners voted to move forward on a housing and homelessness implementation plan.

→ Traverse City Downtown Development Authority board members directed staff to prepare a request-for-proposals for the redevelopment of the Lower Boardman/Ottaway riverwalk area.

July 23 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. & July 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. August 10 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. August 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.