Economic Development Corporation
Welcome to Arenac County!
If you're looking to locate or expand your business, you'll find a warm welcome and a bright future in Arenac County. Nestled along the north shore of Saginaw Bay and the western shore of Lake Huron, Arenac County offers an excellent business climate combined with an exceptional quality of life.
Abundant natural resources and access to transportation routes attracted the area's Native American settlers, early European traders and homesteaders, turn-of-the-century entrepreneurs, and today's manufacturers, shop owners, and service providers.
Service-related businesses provide the majority (about 30 percent) of the area's jobs. The next largest industry sector is the retail trade, which employs about 20 percent of area workers. Local, state and federal jobs comprise the third sector, followed by manufacturing, farm employment, construction, finance/insurance/real estate, and transportation/public utilities round out the major employers.
The tourism industry is responsible for creating and sustaining many jobs here. Visitors to the county annually inject more than $14 million into the local economy. That's because the area is blessed with a multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities. Rivers and streams flow through the entire county, and the Rifle, Au Gres, and Pine Rivers are favored playgrounds for canoeing, rafting, and stream fishing. Trout, steelhead, chinook and coho salmon, suckers, and smelt abound in these waters. Over fifty miles of Saginaw Bay shoreline offers a great opportunity for some fantastic walleye fishing and our local guides can take you there. The Au Gres area marinas on Lake Huron provide immediate access to the Great Lakes for vessels of all sizes. Camping and swimming are enjoyed all summer by families at many inland sites and parks, and a designated water trail along the entire Arenac coastline is currently in development for kayakers, birders, and waterfowl hunters to provide additional water access throughout the seasons.
The mission of the Arenac County Economic Development Corporation is to work in partnership with local government and area businesses to promote Arenac County as a place to live, work, and vacation; assist business with location and expansion efforts; increase resources for economic development; support local economic development projects; managed growth and increase opportunities for employer/employee training.
The Arenac County EDC is committed to the growth and diversification of the County's economy. To that end, the EDC is actively involved in working with new and expanding businesses and industries to facilitate the creation of new jobs for the citizens of Arenac County.
Please contact our office to learn more about the programs and services offered by the Arenac County EDC including tax credit programs for creating new jobs and investing in business property, grant programs for infrastructure development, business relocation assistance, and hosting meetings of community leaders to discuss economic trends, issues and strategies. We are aggressively seeking new business opportunities and can compete with any other community with incentives we are willing to provide your business. Call us today.
The Arenac County EDC is administered by a Board of Directors and appointed by the County Board of Commissioners. Please call Stephanie Buffman, Michigan Works at 989-846-2111 for more specific information or email: sbuffman@michworks4u.org
See the Brownfield Redevelopment video regarding the Standish Depot. Standish Historical Depot Brownfield Redevelopment Video
- Director – Stephanie Buffman
- President – Curt Hillman
- Vice President – Dan Ratajczak
- Secretary – Laura Puzzuoli
- Treasurer – Dennis Stawowy
- Administrative Assistant – Connie Manszewski
Members at Large
- Brian Smith
- Dale Wiltse
- Rich Castle
- Pat Killingbeck
- Adam Kroczaleski
- Deb Morgan
- Amanda Lauzon
- Ruth Ann Cook
- Mike Stodolak
- Jerry Nelson
- Heather Bauman
- Mark Winslow