Bay County voters, the November 5th, 2024, election is just around the corner! This is your chance to make your voice heard on local, state, and national issues, including the presidential election.

If you're planning to vote absentee, you can request an absentee ballot online or by visiting your City or Township Clerk’s office. Be sure to return your ballot by 8pm on Election Day. For those who prefer to vote in person, polls will be open from 7am to 8pm on Election Day.

To find more information, such as what’s on the ballot, where your polling location is, or how to vote absentee, check out these resources:

What's on the ballot?

Absentee voting

Where is my polling place for voting on election day?

Make sure you’re registered and ready to vote! Your vote matters!

Burt Watson Ford

Whether you are waiting for your vehicle to get serviced, picking up a part for your vehicle, or stopping by to check out a new vehicle for yourself, Burt Watson Ford offers a wide range of amenities to enhance your experience.

Prema Rose Wellness Suite

Prema Rose Wellness Suite is a collective of alternative & holistic health practitioners dedicated to supporting individuals facing challenges in life, physical, mental, or spiritual.

Spherion Staffing & Recruiting

They are a staffing and recruiting franchise with a specialty in manufacturing, warehousing, clerical, finance and more supporting a six-county customer base. 

The Bear Traxs

The Bear Traxs is Saginaw's go-to for custom apparel & marketing merchandise. Women & minority-owned, they bring your ideas to life with quality craftsmanship & creative flair. 

We always encourage you to support your fellow Chamber members!

Join Our Team!

Exchange Students Visit BACC!

We were thrilled to welcome two exchange students from our sister city, Ansbach, Germany!

During their visit, they met with our Director of Internal Operations, Jodi, and Director of Workforce Development, Sara. Our staff shared details about the role the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce plays in supporting local businesses and discussed topics such as our workforce development initiatives, collaborations between business and education, and the importance of marketing.



This was a great opportunity to showcase all that Bay County has to offer! Thank you, Bay-Arenac ISD for making this connection!

BACC Business & Education Partnership

 Meets at SVSU

Bridging the gap between education and businesses in the community is what we do!

Thank you, Saginaw Valley State University, for hosting our Business and Education Partnership meeting! We heard from panelists from Vantage Plastics, Inc., Bierlein Trombley Electric, Three Rivers Corporation, Spence Brothers, Michigan Building Trades and UA Local 85.

The purpose of the BEP is to grow collaborative relationships between business and education to support strong workforce development and partner connections.

Hey, Bay City! Highlight

Hey, Bay City! recently featured Bay Veterans Foundation on their podcast!

"Our mission is to help veterans help themselves. They come here and find purpose. Not that they don’t have a purpose outside of this place in their own lives, but here they can find the activity, information, and camaraderie they need. They feel useful and find community."

- Keith Markstrom, Bay Area Veterans Workshop and Learning Center, 

Bay Veterans Foundation

Leadership Bay County Kicks- Off the Program

The Leadership Bay County full day kick-off retreat marks the start of the nine-month program designed to help participants better understand the community and develop leadership skills. This year, the retreat was hosted at Liberty Harbor Event Center and the class was joined by Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities to facilitate their training.



Join us in wishing these 21 participants from Chamber member businesses the best of luck as they attend monthly sessions and work on their class project!

BCBS Open Enrollment

This time of year can be difficult for both employers and their staff. This 15-minute, on-demand webinar from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan can help!

Help your employees make the right decisions for their respective healthcare needs.

National Civics Bee Highlight

Route Bay City recently wrote an article about the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce's participation in the upcoming National Civics Bee!

"The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host a nonpartisan civics competition next spring. Local students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades will have the chance to test their civics knowledge to win recognition and cash, along with the opportunity to compete in the National Civics Bee in Fall 2025."

Member Anniversaries

Do you know a business who would be a great addition to our Chamber family?

Share our Membership Application with them!

State Says Minimum Wage Will Increase Twice in 2025

Despite a Supreme Court (Court) ruling in July finding Michigan’s current minimum wage law constitutional, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) announced this week that the state’s minimum wage will increase twice in 2025: first on January 1st, and again on February 21st.

Why it Matters:

There were questions about whether LEO would interpret the Court’s ruling to invalidate the current minimum wage law immediately, thereby invalidating the Jan. 1 scheduled increase. Unless challenged in the Court or changed by the Legislature, LEO’s decision to increase the wage twice in 2025 will hold, meaning the minimum wage will jump from $10.33 an hour to $10.56 an hour January 1st, 2025, and then to $12.48 an hour February 21st, 2025.

• The tipped employee rate of hourly wage will increase from $3.93 to $4.01 an hour in January and to $5.99 in February (48% of the full minimum wage).
• The $4.25 an hour training wage for young adults under the age of 20 remains intact.

Go Deeper:

Learn more about the Michigan Supreme Court’s clarifying order specifying the minimum wage schedule for 2025 and beyond as well as an update on our advocacy efforts on minimum wage and paid leave. 

Midland Center for the Arts will be launching a new event in January 2025 called THE INFINITE, an immersive experience inspired by NASA missions.

MIOSHA announces $500,000 in grant funding available to Michigan Small Businesses for enhanced worker protections.

STEM In the Great Lakes Bay Region has a full calendar of events in October!

Delta College invites you to a free Cybersecurity Symposium on Friday, October 18, in recognition of National Cybersecurity Month. 

The City of Bay City is soliciting sealed proposals for: Residential Roof Replacement Bid #25-1016.

Michigan Cream & Sugar is accepting pre-orders for assortments of signature flavor and limited edition ice cream.

Conscious Capitalism is hosting Legacy of Leadership: Elevating Communities, Empowering the Future on November 12th.

The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy (SBLC) in collaboration with the Environmental Law & Policy Center released an exciting new greenway study outlining the community’s vision for the historic Dan E. Karn coal plant site on the Saginaw Bay and River.

Come see the implementation of Project Based Learning and the creation of a student-centered culture of belonging at Handy Middle School at their Redesign Tour on October 29th.

They Bay-Arenac Diaper Bank encourages businesses to participate in "Casual for a Cause Challenge" with 100% of funds raised going towards purchasing diapers for their pantry.

The Henry Marsh Institute for Public Policy is now accepting applications for the 2025 Cohort.

The Bay City Morning Rotary Club & Rotary Club of Bay City are providing a project in vocational service designed to interest high school students in careers in Bay County and the Great Lakes Bay Region.

United Financial Credit Union kicks off Coats for Kids collection drive.

The Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities will be holding an Our Community Listens class on December 10-12.

Health Advantage Credit Union's Golf Outing raised over $10,000 for the Health Advantage Cares Foundation to support local community initiatives and nurses scholarships.

The Dow Championship Sustainability Community Grant will provide up to $20,000 in seed money for projects aimed at advancing sustainability through conservation of water and/or nature. Grant applications are due by end of day, Friday, October 25, 2024.

Delta College will host their Chocolate Affair event on November 7th.

Nominations for the 1st State Bank's 20th Annual RUBY Award are now open.

SVSU recognized as ‘2024 Great College to Work For.'

Do you have news or events you would like to share with other Chamber members? Email your events to Annabelle to be included in the next Bay Area Chamber Banter, and add them to our 'Community Events' calendar.

Click HERE to read our October Events Notice.

Click HERE to read the Energize October Newsletter.

Energize is always accepting applications for general membership and to serve on the Steering Committee!

Membership Application

Steering Committee Application

Questions? Please reach out to energize@baycityarea.com.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies

A ribbon cutting is a ceremonial opening of a new business, a recognition for newly renovated business, a celebration of an anniversary, or recognition for a major milestone. Ribbon cuttings are a great way to bring attention to your business!

In September, Ribbon Cuttings were held for: Children's Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region, Goodwill Industries of Mid-Michigan and Gilly's Bistro.

Are you interested in becoming a Chamber Ambassador? Reach out to annabelle@baycityarea.com for program requirements and an application.

Thank you to all who attended our events in September!

Please visit our Facebook Page to see photos from the events.

September Business After Hours

September Lunch & Learn

September Eye Opener Breakfast