By
- Joey Oliver | joliver@mlive.com
There’s a food truck in town slinging handmade Colombian arepasstuffed with steak and chicken recipes
Meanwhile, the Bay Area chamber is seeking nominations for an educational partnership award
Those business stories and more are below in a roundup of recent business stories for across Bay County
This food truck is slinging handmade Colombian arepas stuffed with authentic steak, chicken recipes in mid-Michigan
Making the move to Michigan from Miami is bound to show a difference in food options
Michelle and Christopher Gonzalez experienced exactly this and were craving a Colombian favorite they were used to eating regularly: arepas
Finding few options in the mid-Michigan area, their idea to open the Arepa Paradise food truck was born
Read the full story here
Bay Area Chamber seeks nominations for education partnership award
The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation is accepting nominations for the Jerome L. Yantz Partner in Education Award, which recognizes businesspeople or business organizations that demonstrate meaningful commitment to K-12 education in Bay County
Nominations are due Sept. 15, 2026. The award will be presented Oct. 28 during the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce State of Education event from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bay City-Riverfront, One Wenonah Park Place in Bay City
The award honors Jerome L. Yantz, a CPA and former managing partner with Weinlander Fitzhugh who championed public education and encouraged individuals and businesses to support local students and schools
Read the full story here
DoubleTree Bay City transitions to new local owners
The DoubleTree by Hilton Bay City – Riverfront has transitioned to new ownership under the locally owned Bay City Hospitality Group, the hotel announced this week
Hotel management said the ownership change will not affect the property’s operations or service standards
“Our team is excited to begin this new chapter under Bay City Hospitality Group,” said Jo Ellen Mikolajczak, the DoubleTree general manager. “We remain committed to providing the exceptional hospitality our guests have come to expect while continuing to serve the Great Lakes Bay Region as the area’s premier hotel and conference destination.”
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Financial Plus Credit Union opens Bay City East branch
Financial Plus Credit Union held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Bay City East branch at 708 Center Ave. in downtown Bay City. The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, community leaders, members and local partners attended the celebration at the location formerly occupied by the Bay City Public Library
The building was constructed in 1922 through Carnegie Foundation funding and served as the public library for generations before its transformation into a credit union branch
“Bay City is an important part of our story, and we’re excited to continue growing here,” said Brad Bergmooser, president and CEO of Financial Plus Credit Union. “This new branch allows us to better serve our members while continuing to invest in the people, businesses, and organizations that make this community such a great place to call home.”
Read the full story here
McDonald’s being rebuilt, plus a new fast food restaurant coming soon in Hampton Township
A pair of fast-food restaurants are in the works for Hampton Township
A McDonald’s restaurant is being built on the site of an existing McDonald’s on Center Road, while a Culver’s restaurant will also be coming soon to Center Road,township officials said in an email Tuesday, July 21
The McDonald’s development includes the demolition of the current structure, which is taking place this week. The demolition will make way for a brand-new modern restaurant building, township officials said
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