Bay Area Chamber outlines Hey Bay City workforce and marketing results, plans to spend ARPA dollars through 2026

At the Feb. 3 Bay City City Commission meeting the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce presented a fourth‑quarter report for the Hay Bay City talent attraction and retention initiative.

Sarah Parker, director of workforce development for the chamber, reported the program’s financial position and activity: as of the end of the fourth quarter the program balance was $185,786 and quarter‑four expenditures were $37,047.82, the presentation said. Parker said 2024 totals included 192 employer sign‑ups (16 new), 114 jobs posted that together generated about 27,000 page views, and roughly 2,000 resumes received during the year (60 resumes in quarter 4). She said the program also facilitated 227 in‑person meetings between employers, educators and workforce partners and recorded 39 quarter‑four visits from individuals exploring employment in the area.

Annabelle Schweiger, marketing and communications manager for the chamber, reviewed website and social analytics. She said the Hey Bay City web properties had 95,000 website views in quarter 4 with 36,000 users and 51,000 job page views. Social content across Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn produced a combined 1.16 million views in quarter 4, the presenters said, and the chamber reports roughly 3,793 email newsletter subscribers and 1,266 SMS subscribers.

Why it matters: presenters highlighted demographic trends and regional workforce challenges — county population and workforce projections to mid‑century and Bay County’s high median age — and said the program seeks to strengthen employer outreach, work‑based learning partnerships with area higher‑education institutions and international student outreach as long‑term strategies.

Commission discussion and staffing changes: Commissioners asked about whether job listings attract workers from outside the area, whether applicants move to Bay City for posted jobs and whether the program tracks origin data. Parker said much of the applicant pool is local but she is seeing people relocate for work and that motivations vary (family reasons, cost of living, job offers). Parker and chamber CEO Megan Same also explained staffing changes: Phil (surname not provided in the meeting) moved into additional work outside the chamber and the chamber recently added a full‑time membership engagement position; Annabelle Schweiger’s role was expanded to cover more marketing time and the chamber said it has contracted local photographers and copywriters to maintain storytelling capacity.

Financing and timeline: presenters said ARPA funds are the primary source for Hey Bay City programming with a required spend‑down timeline through Dec. 30, 2026 for those ARPA dollars; the chamber said it is planning a spend‑down plan and is pursuing other funders (McLaren, Dow, SVSU) to continue the initiative beyond the ARPA timeline and to explore a potential regional approach.

The Chamber outlined several near‑term events and initiatives including an employer newsletter, expanded work‑based learning with SVSU and Northwood and a placemaking event at the Bay County Library on Feb. 12.