May 14, 2021
Southwest Michigan restaurants and other businesses are heading into the tourist season facing a severe shortage of employees. Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber President Arthur Havlicek tells WSJM News restaurants are having to scale back operations due to no one applying for jobs.
“You’re starting to see just about all of them adjusting their hours because they’re all operating on skeleton crews, if you will, and they’re terrified of burning the workers they do have out,” Havlicek said.
Havlicek says many local businesses are trying to attract workers with more incentives.
“They’re offering hiring bonuses. I saw Silver Beach Pizza has a hiring bonus if you want to come work in their kitchen and work a certain amount of hours, and they’re not alone in that. I’ve seen a bakery offer employee housing.”
Return of in-person work crucial to Michigan s economic ecosystem, some say
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Bridgman, St Joe bringing dine-in to the streets
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May 4, 2021
A social district for downtown Bridgman has been approved by the city council. Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber President Arthur Havlicek tells WSJM News social districts are areas where people will be allowed to buy and walk around with alcoholic beverages. A state law allows cities to establish them to help businesses recover from pandemic restrictions. Havlicek says communities across Michigan are taking the opportunity.
“Downtowns are recognizing this and establishing social districts as a way to attract more consumers to their downtown and generally give a boost to their overall economy,” Havlicek said.
Now that the Bridgman City Council has approved a social district, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission has to sign off on it. Havlicek says businesses right in the downtown area would qualify to take part.