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Hay Bay City initiative reports expanded reach and focuses on housing, transportation and childcare barriers
Summary
Presenters told the Bay County Board of Commissioners the Hay Bay City workforce and marketing initiative reached more than 2 million people in 2025, recorded roughly 188,000 site views and prioritized one-on-one job seeker support and addressing transportation, housing and childcare barriers in 2026.
Sarah Parker, director of workforce development for the Bay Area Chamber and the Hay Bay City Initiative, and Annabelle Schweiger, the initiative’s marketing and communications manager, presented the initiative’s 2025 year-end impact to the Bay County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16.
Parker said the program’s work centers on connecting employers and job seekers through targeted supports, including one-on-one job seeker coaching. She summarized the initiative’s purpose: "We're supporting employers in real time, helping residents access opportunity, and shaping the perception of Bay County as a place where people can build a future." Parker said the initiative had a county budget balance of about $53,000 for 2025 and emphasized continued focus on workforce barriers: "Those are 3 things that in 2026 we've gotten really involved in" — naming transportation, housing and childcare as priorities.
Schweiger presented the initiative’s marketing metrics and audience growth: "With 188,000 total views and over 62,000 unique users, the Hay Bay City website continues to be a highly visited source" and she reported the initiative’s broader reach was more than 2,000,000 people, with about 18,000 followers and 3,600 newsletter subscribers. She highlighted that Hay Bay City expanded into video storytelling in 2025 and that top-performing content included place-based reels featuring Linwood Beach Marina and Campground, Pettiford Pastry, Bay Valley Resort and others.
Presenters said the work includes partnerships with Saginaw Valley State University and Delta College, targeted employer outreach, and a focus on improving the county’s talent pipeline through events, resume support and employer engagement. Commissioners asked about next steps and presenters said they will continue the mix of video and interview-style stories and retain a focus on one-on-one supports for job seekers in 2026.
The board received the presentation and no formal action was taken; presenters invited follow-up questions and offered to continue partnership efforts into 2026.
