New developments in Bay City toll bridge fees, a solar field project in Saginaw, and other updates in the business world

In recent mid-Michigan business news, motorists in Bay City have been receiving bills in the mail for crossing the Liberty Bridge. The private company Bay City Bridge Partners began tolling on the bridge on June 16, and invoices started going out to drivers a few weeks ago. The sudden influx of calls to the company’s customer service center has caused longer than average wait times, as motorists seek to understand their bills and potential discounts.

On a brighter note, registration is now open for the first-ever Great Lakes Bay Supplier Summit in downtown Bay City. Scheduled for May 13 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, the event aims to connect Michigan-based suppliers with procurement opportunities in the region, offering a chance for local businesses to diversify their supply chains and support local vendors.

Michigan Sugar Co. also made headlines at Bay Future Inc.’s annual meeting, where they announced the upcoming launch of a new molasses desugarization facility. This technological advancement is expected to increase the company’s sugar production by 80 million pounds annually without the need for additional sugar beet planting, showcasing sustainability improvements in the sugar industry.

Lastly, Nexteer Automotive unveiled its new 25-acre solar field in Saginaw County, featuring 17,000 solar panels that now provide renewable energy to the company’s operations. The partnership with NorthStar Clean Energy aims to reduce operational costs and emissions, marking a significant step towards sustainability for Nexteer.