While it may be too late for me to say "Happy New Year", it's great to be writing the first Chamber column of 2024. 我不知道你怎么想, but ever since the spring of 2020 when so much of our world was flipped upside down, 时间过得真快. We're nearly halfway through the 2020s!

With any new year comes new developments for Manistee County. 这里是马尼斯蒂地区商会, I can only be excited to see what's in store for our community in 2024. In 2023 alone, the 马尼斯蒂地区商会 saw 28 new investors join the chamber. Investors come in all shapes and sizes, from new organizations to established non-profits to businesses made up of one employee.

Investing in a local chamber supports the community on many levels. 一方面，一方面, being an investor is what allows us to host our Chamber programs: from exciting networking events like 澳门威尼斯人网址网站 and Business Awards Gala, to signature weekend-long events like the 马尼斯蒂国家森林节, to 剪彩s for brand new businesses. On the other hand, investing in the Manistee Area Chamber supports our work in legislative advocacy. 

Really though, you can't undervalue the importance of 立法倡议 in the chamber scene. 例如, the Manistee Area Chamber is a part of the 北密歇根商会联盟, which allows us to create important relationships with legislators and key state officials. 这些关系至关重要. Making these connections is what allows us to not only secure funding for local projects, but to encourage these partners to continue to focus on rural northern Michigan. Ensuring that Manistee is seen at a state and even national level has profound effects on our community that, 虽然可能不会立即可见, 每个人都深深感受到影响吗.

This is not all investing in a chamber does. Economic Development shapes what type of businesses and services come to Manistee. Can you think of one or two businesses or organizations in Manistee County that, 为你, 让马尼斯蒂成为你的去处? The Manistee Area Chamber understands this: a single business has the potential to make significant positive changes for a community. 在同样的光线下, the Chamber's work in Economic Development gives citizens employment opportunities, 提供服务, and is what allows our community to stand on its own two legs. 

近年来, the Economic Development program fostered almost $50 million in completed catalyst projects with a new lakeshore hotel, 住宅发展, and the community college redevelopment.  这个项目招募了, 建议, 援助住房, 热情好客, 制造业, 以及其他发展. The current development pipeline includes 24 projects, 530个住宅单位, and over $190 million in potential investment.  A program of Business Retention and Expansion visits with manufacturers also resulted in assistance and resources to create 58 new jobs.  Finally we 建议 and assisted with the creation or relocation of 28 new businesses and over 150 jobs.

 

Investing in your local chamber also gives you Leadership & 专业发展. The 马尼斯蒂地区领导计划 provides a unique opportunity for locals to be developed into the next generation of leaders and business professionals. "The 马尼斯蒂地区商会 Leadership Program provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the community, 它的挑战, 以及它的机遇.卡门·科特说, Operations Manager of the 马尼斯蒂地区商会, "Not only does the participant develop leadership skills but also fosters a network of professionals committed to making a positive impact in the community. As an individual and leader who is local to the area, it amazes me how much I didn’t know — it truly is an amazing opportunity!"

All of this doesn't mention the Chamber's work on Downtown Manistee. Manistee's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is what allocates funds for improvements on Manistee's River Street. The DDA strives to make Downtown Manistee attractive and a place that strengthens businesses, all encompassed in the value of community ownership. If you asked someone to imagine any given down, 对于许多, the downtown district is one of the first things to come to mind. Our DDA strives to make Downtown Manistee one of the best places to be.

这对Manistee来说是一个激动人心的时刻. The beginning of the 2020s were unarguably a tumultuous time for just about everyone. 然而, I am encouraged to see how Manistee— and West Michigan as a whole— is continuing to build momentum that will provide our community vitality for years to come.

Blade Gates是市场营销 & 通信 Specialist for the 马尼斯蒂地区商会, 一个非盈利的501 C(6)组织. Our mission is to build a dynamic and sustainable organization to serve the Business, 劳动力, and Economic Development needs of all in Manistee County. You can contact Gates at 231-723-2575 or communications@fnyt.net