Bay Future CEO talks economic growth in the last 4 years in Bay City

An update was given to the Bay City Commissioners by Bay Future Inc. CEO Jim Reaume on how the nonprofit organization is working to bring new jobs and employers to the area.

Bay Future Inc. is a countywide economic development organization that focuses on business retention, attraction, and expansion. During the presentation, Reaume discussed what Bay Future Inc. is doing to increase economic development in the area. The presentation was made during the Sept. 16 Bay City Commissioners meeting.

“In a nutshell, our mission is to increase the tax base, which in turn increases the services municipalities can provide their citizens,” Reaume said. “We also support job retention, career advancement, and connecting the workforce with employers in the labor market.”

In terms of new business growth, Reaume said that since 2020, Bay Future Inc. has facilitated over $1 billion in investment in the area, resulting in more than 900 new jobs.

“Many of these jobs have contributed to Bay County’s average hourly wage rising from $22.42 in 2020 to $25.28 in 2024,” Reaume said.

One success story Reaume highlighted was Progressive Mechanical, a building company based in Clawson, moving to Monitor Township. The company invested $2.5 million in improving a vacant building and hired 25 local UAW 85 workers.

“Why is this a big deal?” Reaume said. “A vacant building is now generating taxes for that township. That is 25 highly-paid, well-skilled workers applying their trade in Bay County, which means more water and electricity being purchased … All of those things ripple out.”

To help supplement the 900 new jobs, Reaume said Bay Future Inc. also works to train people to stay and grow in these jobs. They have helped businesses utilize the Going Pro Talent Fund, a competitive grant fund led locally by Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works. This fund helps companies pay for qualified training programs, and since 2020, Bay County companies have leveraged $2.1 million in training funds.

Another project that resulted from the work of Bay Future Inc. is the expansion of Mersen. The French-based company moved into the south end of Bay City bringing more than 90 jobs. The company produces graphite products used to manufacture silicon chips and semiconductors.

“Mersen had a very competitive offer to move to another state,” Reaume said. “They are headquartered in France and have a global presence. They could have moved wherever they wanted. With hard work from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the city of Bay City, and Bay City Electric Light and Power, a package was put together to attract over $75 million in investment and more than 90 high-paying jobs.”

Reaume said Mersen will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony when the new facility opens in the spring of 2025.

• Vantage Plastics out of Standish expanded into Bangor Township, investing $31 million and bringing 93 jobs, while rehabilitating a 325,000-square-foot building.
• Michigan Sugar invested $109 million in a desugarization facility, which will help them produce 80 million additional pounds of sugar without planting more sugar beets or adding more trucks on the road.

Bay Future Inc., being a nonprofit organization, relies on the investment of private businesses and local units of government to provide its services. It has several partners listed online, including the city of Bay City, with Commissioner Christopher Girard saying the city invests $75,000 a year into the program.

“As a representative from the city, I appreciate the hard work and efforts to get more investment into our city,” Girard said. “The city invests $75,000 a year, so we want to make sure that the resources are spent wisely. Through your presentation today, I believe they are.”

Additional key investors for Bay Future Inc. include Bay County, Bangor Township, Dow, the Consumers Energy Foundation, and the Frances Goll Mills Fund.