Spruce
Spruce, MI · Business
Petoskey News Review
Hutchens joins Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce as new executive director
The Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors recently announced Ashley Hutchens as the organization’s new executive director. The board selected Hutchens following a leadership transition process, and her appointment became effective on July 2. According to the chamber announcement, Hutchens “has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a deep commitment to the chamber’s mission and a genuine passion for the Gaylord community. The board is confident she will continue building strong relationships, supporting chamber members, and leading the organization with vision and enthusiasm.” Hutchens is a longtime Gaylord resident. She has been a member of the chamber team for the past three years working in membership engagement, marketing, event coordination, business advocacy and community partnerships. “This community has given so much to me throughout my life, and it is an incredible honor to now serve it in this capacity,” Hutchens said in the announcement. “I believe in our businesses, our people and the future of Gaylord, and I am excited to help lead the chamber into its next chapter.” Paul Gunderson, who has served as executive director for the last six years, will transition into the role of Legacy Director. This means Hutchens will lead the chamber’s strategic initiatives, member engagement
michiganbusinessnetwork.com
NLEA: State Maritime Grant to Fuel New Manufacturing Academy at Industrial Arts Institute
BOYNE CITY, Mich. (July 27, 2026) — The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) is celebrating a major workforce development win for the region: NLEA’s grant application submitted in partnership with the Industrial Arts Institute (IAI) in Onaway has been selected for funding through the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification’s (OFME) Michigan Maritime Innovation Grant Program.
cfgrower.com
Planting for the future: A Michigan farm family’s pine nut experiment
Ox Heights Farm and North Star Chestnuts is a diverse 180-acre farm in the northeast corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula, about five miles from Lake Huron and Rogers City. Abby and Nick Johnson and their five children produce tree crops including chestnuts from 1,000 trees and peaches. They also raise Dorper sheep and sell forest products including maple syrup, lumber, holiday greenery and firewood. Always interested in diversification, they planted their first Korean pine nut trees in 2017.
pulse2.com
Group 1 Automotive To Acquire Hennessy Dealerships In Atlanta
Group 1 Automotive announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the dealership assets and real estate of Hennessy Automobile Companies. The deal significantly expands the company’s presence in the Atlanta metropolitan market. The transaction includes 10 dealerships and a brand portfolio containing key luxury and import brands,...
9&10 News
Chamber launches Alpena Sticker Quest to support local shops
The Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce has launched the Alpena Sticker Quest, an interactive citywide game designed to highlight and support local businesses. Residents and visitors can purchase game boards now and submit completed boards by Sept. 1, to be entered into a prize drawing. The new community adventure encourages participants to discover new places, engage with local entrepreneurs and enjoy a family-friendly challenge throughout the city. Individuals will explore Alpena, follow clues, visit participating businesses and collect unique stickers to complete their official game board. To join the Sticker Quest, participants can purchase a game board for $10 at the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce office, located at 235 W. Chisholm St. Clues helping to reveal participating business locations will be regularly posted on the Chamber’s Facebook page. After identifying a business, participants visit it to collect the corresponding sticker. All completed Sticker Quest boards submitted by the deadline will be entered for a chance to win one of several prize packages, each valued at $500. The first clue for the quest will be released on Monday, Aug. 3. The deadline for board submission is Sept. 1. “Don’t miss this opportunity to explore Alpena, support local businesses and enjoy
michiganbusinessnetwork.com
PIE&G Reaches Major FEMA Milestone with First $14.7 Million Funding Obligation
ONAWAY, Mich. — Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op (PIE&G) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has officially obligated $14.7 million toward the cooperative’s Category A debris removal costs from the historic March 2025 ice storm. The news marks the first FEMA funding approved for...
michiganbusinessnetwork.com
Gaylord Chamber | Highlighting Your Peer Chamber Members
Helping Local Businesses Save Energy and Reduce Costs with the DTE Energy Small and Medium Business Program. Local businesses work hard every day to serve our community — and now, thanks to the Small and Medium Business Program, they can also take advantage of valuable tools and resources that make saving energy easier and more affordable than ever.
climatecosmos.com
13 midwest lake towns retirees over 70 keep quietly moving to each spring in 2026 because the summers stay under 82 and property tax stays under 1800 a year
Most retirees over 70 are still packing for Florida or Arizona – and quietly regretting it by July. A small, sharp-eyed group has found something the retirement industry never advertises: Midwest lake towns where summer afternoons stay under 82°F and the property tax bill lands lower than a monthly car payment.
Up North Voice
northernexpress.com
Meet Little Guys Trash Co.
There’s a new(ish) trash company in town, and they’re more David than Goliath—literally, they’re called Little Guys Trash Co. Gaylord High School grads Parker Willbee and Landen Platte spent their first year out of high school learning the ropes of waste management before launching their business serving residential and commercial customers in the Gaylord area in 2023. They offer similar services to the Big Guys: weekly service for a 96-gallon trash bin, large item pick-ups, and residential pricing that’s just $34 per month. They’ve got the bins, the trucks, and the drive to succeed. Plus, their slogan is just too good: “If you’re talking trash, it better be about us.” Learn more about Little Guys Trash Co. at littleguystrash.com or call (989) 470-TRSH.
Petoskey News Review
Gaylord's Up North Blueberry Farm preps for busy summer picking season
Mid-July through Labor Day weekend is “go time” for Up North Blueberry Farm owners Jodi and Bob Wagner. That’s because it is picking season for blueberry farms. There aren’t many blueberry farms in Northern Michigan because the soil tends to have lower pH levels, but the Wagner’s farm near Gaylord has had the right characteristics since they first planted blueberry bushes there in 2011, opening to the public one year later. Subscribe: Check out our latest offers Running a blueberry farm is a busy endeavor but a seasonal one, where late spring to mid-July constitutes the growing season. Blueberries generally are ready to pick within two or three days of August, and the farm remains open for pickers through Labor Day. “Weather plays a big role in exactly when the blueberries are ready and how big of a crop we have but it’s pretty consistent,” said Bob Wagner. “We have everything we need here with the irrigation and better soil than other parts of (Northern Michigan). Southwest Michigan is a better fit, but Michigan is not a big blueberry (producer).” Up North Blueberry Farm has over 2,600 bushes that have grown to an average of 72 inches, Wagner said. The