The Scottville Connection: An opportunity to network and grow business.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

SCOTTVILLE — For those of you who know me, you know that I love Mason County and have a special spot in my heart for Scottville. Our little town has certainly had an uphill battle to regain its momentum and reinvent itself. But, I won’t give up and neither will many others who live and/or work in Scottville. It is our home and we will continue to work to see it succeed. Mason County Press is a Scottville-based business and we are committed to being part of the solution.

Since Scottville’s disaffiliation with the Main Street program earlier in the summer, some of us have been talking about the next step. I have had conversations with several Scottville business owners, but most notably Sally and Jerry Cole (Cole’s Antique Villa), Karl Reeds (North Country Cafe), Jennifer Miller (Miller’s Marketplace), Dr. Lewis Squires (Squires Family Chiropractic) and Linda Holden (Holden’s Home Emporium).

We all agree that it is important that we continue to network with each other and share ideas of how to grow our town’s economy.

I am happy to announce the formation of The Scottville Connection. The Scottville Connection is open to anyone who has an interest in the economic growth of Scottville and the surrounding area. We will meet on the second Tuesday of even-numbered months at 7:30 a.m. at North Country Cafe. Each meeting will include a presenter who will speak for 15 to 20 minutes and then round table discussions. Most meetings will include a sponsored light breakfast as well.

The group will also keep in touch with a Facebook group.

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 13 and will feature branding and graphic design expert Chris VanWyck of Ludington. Chris will talk about “Branding in the 21st Century.”

Breakfast is sponsored by Squires Family Care Chiropractic.

Chris is an award-winning graphic designer who has more than 25 years of graphic design and brand development experience in his role as brand manager for CiesaDesign in Lansing. At CiesaDesign, Chris balances smart strategy with award-winning creative output to focus on brand authenticity and consistency for clients.

He serves as a visiting adjunct professor for the Department of Art, Art History and Design at Michigan State University and West Shore Community College. Chris is also a talented fine artist who enjoys producing silkscreen posters and sculptural works from his designs.

There is no charge to be part of the Scottville Connection. The group is meant to be an informal group not necessarily affiliated with any other group. Instead, it is meant to enhance and supplement efforts by other groups such as the Scottville Downtown Development Authority and the Ludington and Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce.