State of the Community offers perspective on past and future of the region's business landscape

It’s not every day you get to have lunch with Bay City Manager Dana Muscott and Bay County Executive Jim Barcia.

But that’s just what’s happening at this year’s State of the Community event, hosted by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce on Tues., Feb. 18. This will be the 20th such event for the organization.
 

'People see good things happening in the city and the county and they want to learn more. It makes people want to become more engaged.'
- Ryan Tarrant, Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

Held at the Doubletree Hotel, 1 Wenonah Park Place, on the riverfront in Downtown Bay City, the State of the Community is modeled after events similar to the president’s State of the Union or the governor’s State of the State.

Muscott and Barcia each will reflect on the previous year’s accomplishments before pivoting to what to expect in 2020. Following the speeches, the floor opens to the guests for an open question-and-answer session for the two community leaders.

"We’ve seen interest building in this event. Last year we had a snowstorm and still had more attendance than the year before. So we expect a good turnout this year," says Ryan Tarrant, president and CEO of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

"People see good things happening in the city and the county and they want to learn more. It makes people want to become more engaged."

This event, along with the monthly Eye Opener Breakfasts, does just that, he says. Next month’s Eye Opener Breakfast on Wed., March 18, for instance, will feature an informative discussion about the future of the city’s bridges.

Tarrant recommends people interested in the area’s business community to visit the chamber online for a full run-down of events.

Tickets are available for the State of the Community, which costs $35 for Chamber members and $50 for "future" Chamber members. A table of eight can be reserved for $270, though table reservations are for Bay Area Chamber members only.

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