Recent mass protests across the country over the brutal killing of George Floyd demonstrate the need for meaningful, truthful conversations as well as honest examinations of existing laws, systems, procedures, and processes throughout all aspects of our community including business, government, and social services. We support citizens exercising their 1st amendment rights in America to peacefully protest to achieve these needed conversations and urge participants to remain peaceful. Rioting does nothing to advance justice and serves only to increase fear and chaos which are the enemies of honest communication.

The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce is a leading organization in this community with a long, rich history of supporting partnerships, collaboration, and bringing diverse groups together to foster an exceptional Saginaw.

We support and advocate equality for everyone, everywhere in Saginaw County which should be a place where all are welcomed and treated with dignity and respect. If we don’t all succeed, we leave people behind, and that is unacceptable.                                                                                  

​In today’s economy where our businesses need talent to fill positions, it’s imperative that Congress make common sense laws that allow for the diverse workforce that is needed. We fully support immigration policies that demonstrate that Michigan is both welcoming and business-friendly. Saginaw County, and the Great Lakes Bay Region, welcome diversity, and all workers will find this a region with great jobs and an exceptional quality of life. With that in mind, the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce has signed on to The Michigan Compact on Immigration, a set of five principles to guide the immigration discussion at the state and federal level.

This month has been eventful to say the least.  We’re in the midst of a major correction in the market, with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) contributing to much of the market correction and the uncertainty of a Democrat Primary that seems to be pushing philosophy to the extreme left leaving many of us shaking our heads and a bit unnerved.

It’s easy to get caught up in these major happenings. However, it’s critical that we remain focused on what we can control - focused on the positive direction we are heading in Saginaw County and the Great Lakes Bay Region.
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This doesn’t mean we should ignore world and national events.  We need to do whatever we can to protect ourselves, our families and our businesses.

​In early 2020, Saginaw's Police Chief, Robert Ruth held a press conference, in coordination with the Michigan State Police and other law enforcement agencies, to release crime statistics for the city of Saginaw. As you may know, Saginaw realized another dramatic, 40% decrease in crime across nearly every category of crime.

​One of the more puzzling vetoes the governor included in her 148 line-item veto list was a $100 placeholder for Brown Hall at Saginaw Valley State University.  This $100 was necessary to begin the authorization process for a projected $12 million renovation, and it was the only request for funding by any higher education institution out of all Michigan Universities in its category.

​Michigan is facing a critical shortage of physicians that will only get worse as more and more doctors retire.

A program, called MiDOCS, provides matching monies ($1.25 million) to put medical residents into training and places them to work in medically underserved areas of Michigan.  In our region, the CMU Medical School participates in the MiDOCS program.  This year, CMU started with psychiatry as we are terribly underserved with the issues of behavioral health, opioid addiction, depression and suicide.

Michigan is facing a critical shortage of mental health beds, treatment facilities and professionals.  We in the Great Lakes Bay Region understand the need when it comes to mental health services and are working tirelessly to address the situation.
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Locally, HealthSource is an exceptional facility comprised of Adult, Child/Adolescent and Geriatric Inpatient Psychiatric Units and treat acute care, short time inpatient units.  HealthSource provides comprehensive assessment and treatment in a secure setting for those suffering from mental illness.

​At a time of heated debate across the country about the urgent need for more and better mental health services that could help prevent tragic incidents like El Paso and Dayton, now is the time to invest in mental health.  In Michigan alone, more than 4 million residents reside in areas identified by The Kaiser Family Foundation as a Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), with the number of mental health professionals meeting the needs of fewer than 25 percent of the population in those areas.