The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is highlighting a successful year of the Greater Bridgman Area Chamber and Growth Alliance, or CGA.
The chamber says the CGA model is proving effective at helping communities grow by having boots on the ground to coordinate and cheerlead for economic development.
Bridgman CGA Director Nancy Kiernan tells us Lake Township and the city of Bridgman came together more than a year ago to pay for her hiring, and since, there’s been a lot of movement in the area. She says the CGA just completed a commercial property inventory so it knows what’s available for incoming businesses.
“How many acres, how much square footage there is in the building who’s currently in it, or if it’s vacant, who the owner is and who should we contact really good information that now is at our fingertips in a geographic information systems format,” Kiernan said.
Kiernan says the entire Bridgman and Lake Township community has been getting more involved in the past year, pointing to the return of the Street Dance held just this past Saturday. She says more than 800 people attended.
“That was an effort of probably about eight of my board members for the last six months. And that’s a labor of love…A member of my board, Classic Catering, stepped up to be the signature sponsor of this year’s event. So people are investing again in the organization and in the community.”
Kiernan says the Bridgman CGA has hosted five ribbon cuttings and groundbreaking ceremonies since she was hired, pointing to Lakeside Fit’s move to a better location as a big win. She also notes Beachside Salt and Soul, a holistic self-care spa, plans to open downtown next month.
The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber has been promoting the establishment of CGAs all over Berrien County with them either in the planning stages or launching in Berrien Springs, Eau Claire, New Buffalo, and Stevensville.