Community Development

Michigan is the most diversified production agriculture state in the country.

Q&A with Terry Henne, WSGW Farm Service Radio

Production agriculture is a big part of the Great Lakes Bay Region’s economy. Terry Henne, head of Farm Service Radio for WSGW in Saginaw, shares his thoughts on the role agriculture plays in our economy, the trends he’s seen, and his concerns going forward. He’s celebrating 50 years in radio at WSGW.

Latest in Community Development
FILL is located at 1908 S. Saginaw Road, next to The Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe. They're open nearly every day.
FILL store encourages sustainable approach to community shoppers

A unique, new sustainability store, FILL is now open in Midland. The business offers refillable containers and glass bottles in an effort to curb plastics used for household cleaning and personal care products.

The Midland Mountain Biking Crew is a youth-focused mountain biking group for elementary through high school students.
Ride on, Midland Mountain Biking Crew

Wednesday nights are rolling at Midland City Forest. That’s when a group of kids, parents and coaches — known as the Midland Mountain Biking Crew — meet to mountain bike.

Volunteers worked this spring and summer to clear brush and make improvements to  re-open two different walking and biking loops of the Michigan Sugar Trails on the Middlegrounds Island.
Sweet trails open up on Bay City’s Middlegrounds Island

Improvements to the Michigan Sugar Trails help dry the dirt paths after heavy rains while offering walkers and bikers interesting paths to travel.

Bass fishing teams, including this one from Alabama's Auburn University, competed in a national tournament on the Saginaw Bay this summer. Fishing tournaments are a great way to introduce visitors to the region – and bring in tourism dollars.
Saginaw Bay bass fishing tourneys reeling in big tourism dollars

Fishing tournaments are a great way to introduce visitors to the region – and bring in tourism dollars.

All 501(c)(3) nonprofits are welcome to apply to the #TeamUp for the Great Lakes Bay Region charitable program.
Great Lakes Bay Invitational set to tee off in July

The Great Lakes Bay Invitational returns to Midland Country Club for an in-person weeklong event. The world’s best women golfers will be playing to support 36 local community organizations.

The project is expected to be complete by the first week of October 2021, in time for the Northwood University International Auto Show.
Northwood University plans to bring the Midland community together on campus

Northwood University is reimagining its central pathway through campus, known as the Mall Walk, and adding flood mitigation security measures underground. The University hopes to use the location to host events and welcome the community once construction is complete.

Chamber CEO Magen Samyn greets guests at the Eye Opener Breakfast. The Chamber is one of the agencies working to recruit and retain talented people to work in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Social media video is designed to invite visitors to Bay City this summer

The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is promoting a video around the state in a bid to showcase the community and entice visitors to come here.  

Baltimore Oriole on Saginaw Bay Birding Trail
Birdwatching is a hobby taking flight along the Saginaw Bay Birding Trail, which includes Bay County

Birdwatching is an inexpensive hobby that adds enjoyment to time spent hiking and biking in the area’s nature preserves and parks. In Bay County, you can even spot raptors hunting in downtown.  

Last year’s successful distribution of yard signs across the Bay, Saginaw, Midland and Isabella counties led to a continuation of the program this year.
Great Lakes Bay Pride celebrates “Pride at Home” with free yard sign distribution

In place of its annual festival, Great Lakes Bay Pride is offering a ‘Pride at Home’ LGBTQ celebration this year. Free pride yard signs will be distributed June 4 at Dow Diamond.

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