As a major proponent of economic development in the City and County of Saginaw and the Great Lakes Bay Region, Saginaw Future would like to inform you of an exciting effort to continue Downtown Saginaw’s rebirth.

Spearheaded by the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce and a number of civic leaders and volunteers, a campaign to renew a reduced Event Center millage has been launched. The requested millage has been cut in half and will cost the average Saginaw County homeowner less than $8.00 per year. The funds generated will support continued renovations and Event Center operations. A healthy vibrant Event Center adds greatly to the region’s quality of life. And a great quality of life (QOL) is key to economic development.

According to a recent article in Area Development Magazine, site consultant, Mark Sweeney, of McCallum Sweeney Consulting said, “A high quality of life is particularly important for recruitment — the ability to attract the best and most desired talent to your location — and retention — having employees stay with the company because they are satisfied with their quality of life.” Sweeney also noted that, “Job satisfaction is positively correlated with productivity, and QOL will influence that.” Numerous business leaders have agreed, stating that the Event Center is critical to recruiting and retaining employees, and growing their businesses.

Records show that since 2002, more than 2 million visitors have patronized the facility. On average, around 300,000 people per year paid to attend concerts, Saginaw Spirit hockey games, Broadway plays and a variety of family entertainment. Two of the highest quality of life factors for locating a business are cultural and recreational opportunities and the Event Center fits the bill in both areas.

The Saginaw County Convention and Visitors Bureau reported that the Event Center generates $15 million per year in economic activity at hotels, restaurants and other businesses across Saginaw County. The Event Center also directly employs more than 200 full and part-time workers, and thousands of indirect jobs in Saginaw County are also tied to its continued success. So not only does the Event Center add to the area’s quality of life, it also directly impacts the economic vitality of our region.

A strong, vibrant downtown central city district, with cultural and recreational activities, plays a significant role in a healthy, growing local economy. We encourage you to consider these facts when voting on November 2nd.

Sincerely,

JoAnn Crary, President
Saginaw Future Inc.