Northern MI Chamber Alliance

Says clarity can restore faith among businesses

NORTHERN MI – The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance called on the state’s Administration, including the affiliated state departments, and decision-makers to provide a pathway for a full reopening for all industries, including metrics. The Alliance represents 16 chambers and economic development organizations and over 7,000 member businesses from all across northern Michigan. 

“There is a feeling of desperation and hopelessness for many of our business owners,” said Stacie Bytwork, the chairperson of the Alliance and president and CEO of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce. “Transparency on how decisions are being made and collaboration with our businesses on these discussions would do a lot to restore hope.”

The Alliance said business owners deserve clarity and transparency in how reopening decisions are being made. The coalition shared that all industries should be allowed to reopen with proper safety protocols in place. Restaurants and bars have been particularly hard hit and Michigan is an outlier among neighboring states, with Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio no longer having statewide restaurant capacity restrictions in place, outside of social distancing.

“Business owners in the hospitality industry see the faces of servers and cooks longing to return to their jobs,” said Reginald Smith, Chairman of the Board for Stafford’s Hospitality with locations in Petoskey, Bay View, Alanson, Charlevoix, and Harbor Springs. “The hospitality industry feels completely abandoned. We are one of the region’s largest employers – and we only ask for equity and clarity in requirements and reopening.”

According to the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, the hospitality industry is Michigan’s second largest private employer, responsible for 12.5 percent of the state’s workforce and nearly 10 percent of its economy. It has also suffered disproportionately since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as 3,000 restaurants have permanently closed, 200,000 jobs have been lost, and more than half of all hotels remain at real risk of foreclosure in 2021.

Wedding and banquet venues cannot hold events or weddings because the indoor gathering limit is being interpreted as ten people. Businesses are seeking clarity on COVID restrictions and how decisions are being made and wonder when the rest of their operations will reopen.

“Right now, our customers can socially distance and remove their mask to have a drink, but they can’t enjoy a cigar,” said Andy Hyde of Nolan’s Tobacco and Cigar Bar in Traverse City. “We’re waiting to hear when we can reopen the rest of our business operations.”

“We realize that vaccinations are the best way to end the pandemic, but it has to be a two-pronged approach: continue reopening the economy and shots in arms,” said Sarah Hagen, vice-chairperson of the Alliance and president of the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance continues to support chambers, economic development organizations, and their member businesses by providing timely information and advocating for rural business needs, primarily at the state level. The Alliance is engaged in delivering industry-specific information, access to funding opportunities, and ensuring the northern Michigan voice is represented in reopening discussions. More information on the Alliance’s latest work can be found at nmichiganbusiness.com.

About the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance:

The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance is a coalition of chambers and economic development organizations including the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, Benzie County Chamber of Commerce, Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce, Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce, Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce, Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, Traverse Connect, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake Superior Community Partnership, Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce, Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce, Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce, Sault Area Chamber of Commerce, & Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. The Alliance exists to advocate for rural northern Michigan and move forward rural-centric business policy.

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Businesses deserve more clarity

NORTHERN MI – The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance voiced their support for a comprehensive reopening strategy for bars and restaurants. Today, the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association (MRLA) released a two-pronged, metric-driven roadmap to eventually restore normal operations within the hospitality industry. The proposed plan authored by the MRLA aspires to provide a clear, metric-driven solution for elected officials that will enable hotel and restaurant operators to remain in business, restore jobs, and “return to a more Pure Michigan.”

“We support the call for a comprehensive reopening strategy for bars and restaurants including metrics such as the COVID percent positive rate,” said Stacie Bytwork, the chairperson of the Alliance and president and CEO of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce. “If the state sets clear and accountable benchmarks for reopening, our communities and patrons will take an active and accountable role in our continued reopening efforts.”

“The Alliance is willing to safely meet with any leader who wants to formulate a plan for reopening so our bars and restaurants can anticipate what happens next,” said Sarah Hagen, the vice-chairperson of the Alliance and president of the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s time to provide this industry with a timeline and metrics to fully reopen.”

The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance continues to support chambers, economic development organizations, and their member businesses by providing timely information and advocating for rural business needs primarily at the state level. The Alliance is engaged in delivering industry-specific information, access to funding opportunities, and ensuring the northern Michigan voice is represented in reopening discussions. More information on the Alliance’s latest work can be found at nmichiganbusiness.com.

About the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance:

The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance is a coalition of chambers and economic development organizations including the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, Benzie County Chamber of Commerce, Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce, Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce, Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce, Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, Traverse Connect, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake Superior Community Partnership, Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce, Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce, Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce, Sault Area Chamber of Commerce, & Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. The Alliance exists to advocate for rural northern Michigan and move forward rural-centric business policy.

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Continues call for a pathway to full reopening

NORTHERN MI – The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance continued their call on leaders to provide business owners with clarity by releasing a comprehensive plan to fully reopen bars and restaurants. Today, February 1, 2021, is the first day in 75 days that bars and restaurants are open for indoor dining, which is limited to 25 percent capacity. The Alliance represents 16 chambers and economic development organizations and over 7,000 member businesses from all across northern Michigan. 

“We’ve been waiting for this day, and we’re relieved to be reopening, but we owe clarity to our bars and restaurants on what will happen after February 21 when this current order expires,” said Stacie Bytwork, the chairperson of the Alliance and president of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our bars and restaurants can’t keep operating three weeks at a time; this isn’t sustainable, and our job providers deserve more certainty.”

Michigan has lost nearly 3,000 restaurants since the onset of the pandemic, and the Alliance fears this trend will continue if a pathway to reopening isn’t outlined soon. The absence of a plan to fully reopen bars and restaurants has also complicated the hospitality industry’s operations.

“The uncertainty of these shutdowns has put pressure on all aspects of our operations. We weren’t able to keep all of our staff offering only takeout and lost good employees to other sectors. Now we will have to work on rebuilding our staff with this continued unpredictability,” said John McGee, co-owner of McGee’s, Harrington’s by the Bay, and Sorellina in the Grand Traverse region.

“We’re not reopening today, in part because we are concerned about restocking our restaurant only to close again,” said Connie Freiberg, chef/owner at Blue Fish Kitchen + Bar in Manistee.

The Alliance continues to offer its partnership to leaders across the state in crafting a comprehensive plan for a full reopening for bars and restaurants. The coalition is willing to safely meet with any leader who wants to formulate a real plan for reopening. The Alliance also urges northern Michigan to support their bars and restaurants in whatever way they feel comfortable.

“The restaurant community wants our customers and community to know that our industry is accustomed to strict health and safety protocol; COVID just adds a layer on top of our already comprehensive measures. We want our diners to know we are committed to their health and safety,” said John McGee.

The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance continues to support chambers, economic development organizations, and their member businesses by providing timely information and advocating for rural business needs primarily at the state level. The Alliance is engaged in delivering industry-specific information, access to funding opportunities, and ensuring the northern Michigan voice is represented in reopening discussions. More information on the Alliance’s latest work can be found at nmichiganbusiness.com.

About the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance:

The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance is a coalition of chambers and economic development organizations including the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, Benzie County Chamber of Commerce, Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce, Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce, Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce, Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, Traverse Connect, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake Superior Community Partnership, Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce, Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce, Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce, Sault Area Chamber of Commerce, & Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. The Alliance exists to advocate for rural northern Michigan and move forward rural-centric business policy.

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