January 25, 2023

Final Week for Nominations:
2022 Distinguished Service Award

Nominations for the 2022 Distinguished Service Award are open until Friday, January 27, at 5 p.m. Among the region’s oldest and most prestigious civic honors, the Distinguished Service Award has been presented annually since 1929 to individuals whose extraordinary commitment to the Grand Traverse area has improved the lives of those who live here.

The Distinguished Service Award honors business leaders, public servants, patrons of the arts, naturalists, and those from various backgrounds who’ve worked and given tirelessly to improve the region. The list of past DSA recipients includes individuals who’ve left a permanent, positive impact on our community – some of the most-recognized and respected names in local history. Contributions other than purely monetary donations to the area’s cultural, economic, and social betterment are significant considerations for the award, along with character and ethics.

Persons nominated must be residents of Traverse Connect’s five-county service area. They are not required to be investors in Traverse Connect, and anyone is invited to submit a nomination. The 2022 Distinguished Service Award will be announced in March, and the annual Distinguished Service Award Luncheon will be held in May.

SUBMIT A NOMINATION

News from Traverse Connect that you might have missed.

→ “Michigan’s Creative Coast was able to help me find and recruit a top sales and marketing leader for a local manufacturing company. The job board attracts top talented people who already call Northern Michigan home and those desiring a relocation to our community.” Find skilled and talented candidates for your business and post your open positions!

→ Traverse Connect and our Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance partners joined a group of Michigan business leaders to sign a memo advocating for amendments to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. View the full letter and list of supporters.

→ The fifth annual Northern Michigan Policy Conference brought legislators from both sides of the aisle and from across the state to Traverse City last week to speak to a record audience of more than 350 attendees.

Our midweek reading.

→ Traverse City Whiskey Co. broke ground on their new facility in Elmwood township on Friday with a notable guest list, including Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, U.S. Senator Gary Peters, MEDC CEO Quentin Messer, and other state leaders.

→ A 2022 economic impact study illustrated the significant influence of Michigan’s wine industry, which “generates close to $6.33 billion in total economic activity.”

→ Plans to construct a new high-speed fiber internet network will begin this year and bring high-speed internet access to more than 8,000 unserved or underserved homes throughout Leelanau County.

→ Employers, schools, and volunteers from Northwest Lower Michigan can now sign up for the region’s largest career exploration event for students, MiCareerQuest™ Northwest, on May 11 at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center.

→ Le Macaron French Pastries and Aiko Street Food will be coming to the downtown area and other restaurants and retail stores in Traverse City.

→ The City of Traverse City published its annual highlight of accomplishments, The Performance, which are the results of efforts made by the City Commission, city boards and committees, and city staff for 2022.

Traverse Connect’s upcoming in-person and virtual events.

February 14 from 8:45 – 10:00 a.m.

TCYP at Interlochen!
February 10 from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to the new investors who joined Traverse Connect this January. Not an investor yet? Learn about the benefit levels and join today!