Our 140th Annual Meeting took place on March 9 and it was so great to celebrate with so many of our Chamber members! We have a ton of photos on our Facebook page so please feel free to check them out, tag, or share them.

Congratulations to our award recipients:

• Ambassador's Choice: Kellie Rupp, Bay City Downtown Management Board
• Ambassador of the Year: Jodi Wolff, COPOCO Community Credit Union
• Bay Area Energize Award: Madison Jarmon, Consumers Energy
• Leadership Alumni Community Service: Brenda Rowley, Rowleys Wholesale 
• ATHENA: Elizabeth (Libby) Pionk, D.O., McLaren Bay Region 
• Business Hall of Fame: Jerome (Jerry) Crete, Ideal Party Store 

If you missed the event or want to relive the event, please click HERE to watch the video.

Thank you to all for your support of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce!

Welcome New Members!

Assisted Living Locators

Guest Painting Incorporated

The Tech Laboratory

Tri-City Tactical

Win Home Inspection

Featured Events

Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings

Bay City Academy Playground: March 21, 2023 at 4:30 PM

301 N. Farragut Street, Bay City, MI 48708

Mark Your Calendars!

March Business After Hours

Thursday, March 16, 5-7 PM

Brian's House, 664 W. Nebobish Rd, Essexville

March Eye Opener Breakfast

Wednesday, March 22, 7:15-9 AM, DoubleTree Hotel Bay City - Riverfront

Brad MacDonald, Site Director, S.C. Johnson

Bay Area Energize YPN Luncheon

Wednesday, March 29, 11:15 AM -1:00 PM

Social Media Bootcamp with Phil Eich and Marlana Cork

April Eye Opener Breakfast

Wednesday, April 12, 7:15-9 AM, DoubleTree Hotel Bay City - Riverfront

Dr. Michael Gavin, President, Delta College

April Business After Hours

Thursday, April 20, 5-7 PM

Washington Avenue Block Party: State Theatre of Bay City,

United Way of Bay County, & Herman Hiss & Company

Download our 2023 calendar of events and make sure to add them to your calendar so you don't miss out! Please send it to all your colleagues as well!

Featured Content

SEEKING PROJECT PROPOSALS FOR 2024

The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking Project Proposals for the 2024 Leadership Bay County class project.

• Your proposal should explain an unmet need in the community.
• Your agency must be willing to partner with approximately 20 class participants and must provide a variety of roles for each class member.
• Is your project budget clear and practical? (Past projects ranged from $5,000 to $70,000.)
• Can your project be completed by June of 2024?

The LBC Class of 2024 will review and select a project in September. Submissions are due August 18, 2024.

Acronym Soup Presentation

The SBDC is putting on an event to encourage partner relationships and share information about client support services from four agencies. 

On Thursday, March 23rd from 9:00am to 11:30am you will learn about the programs and services offered by these agencies to help businesses grow, navigate regulatory requirements, and access financing opportunities. Lunch will be provided after the seminar.

There is no charge to attend, but an RSVP is requested by 3/16/23. To secure your spot, please fill out the registration form.

Location:

SVSU Curtiss Hall - 2nd Floor Seminar Rooms

BAY FUTURE, INC. Annual Meeting

Please join Bay Future, Inc. at their Annual Meeting on April 13, 2023.

Registration: 11:00 AM

Lunch: 11:30 AM

Program: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

They will be celebrating the successes of 2022 and discussing how we can continue to Drive Bay County Forward.

Spots are already filling up, so don't wait to RSVP! Click HERE to register.

BROADBAND LISTENING SESSIONS

The Michigan High Speed Internet (MIHI) Office is hosting regional broadband “listening sessions” across central and eastern Michigan over the next couple weeks (click HERE for more details). These sessions will be held in the following communities:

• Saginaw - Tuesday, March 21, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Saginaw Intermediate School District, 3860 Fashion Square Blvd, Saginaw
• Mt Pleasant – Thursday, March 23, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Ziibiwing Center, 6650 E Broadway Rd, Mount Pleasant
• Ithaca/Alma – Tuesday, March 28, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Gratiot-Isabella RESD, 1131 E. Center St., Ithaca

Please take advantage of this opportunity to attend and add your voice to developing Michigan’s longer term broadband infrastructure and digital equity plan. 

We encourage you to share this information with residents and business leaders in your community to attend as well. The expanding Listening Tour schedule and registration link can be found at HERE.

Infinity Bridal is looking for a new owner.

Chippewa Nature Center to Host Maple Syrup Day.

SVSU earns Silver status as a 2023-24 Military Friendly® School.

Three Rivers Corporation Honored as a National, Top-Performing US Construction Contractor by ABC.

United Financial Credit Union Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Collection Drive Gives Back to Local Animal Shelters.

Renue Physical Therapy to offer free athletic taping, stretching and injury prevention for 2023 Bay City St. Patrick’s Day Races.

Ambassador Highlight

Brick Award Presentations

The Brick Award was developed by the Bay Area Chamber Ambassadors to recognize the investment a Bay County business makes to the community when it expands, renovates, or improves its facility. The Award for March was presented to the following business:

Wholesale Electric – presented by Ali Smith, Ayre Rhinehart Bay

Wholesale Electric, a historic Midland Street business, was sold to Consolidated Electrical Distributors, who opted to keep the well-known business name. In the acquisition the showroom went through a major renovation to bring the look from the 70's to a current and fresh design. New flooring, paint, updated ceiling tiles and brand new lighting options were brought in to fill the space with the most up to date selections. Make sure to stop in and see the updates and say hello to John and his amazing team!

In Case You Missed It!

Thank you to all who attended our 140th Annual Meeting!

Click HERE to watch the video of the Annual Meeting.

A Special Thank You!