Oceana County Economic Alliance

08/19/2026

Ready to sell your home-baked goods? Learn what you can safely prepare and sell from this training.

❤️ Love baking or thinking about starting a home‑based food business?
Join our Michigan Cottage Food Law Workshop to learn how to safely prepare and sell allowable foods made in home kitchens. We’ll cover recent updates to the Michigan Cottage Food Law, food safety requirements, and selling guidelines.
💼 The MSU Product Center will share business insights, and an MDARD inspector will be available for live Q&A.
🔗 Learn more and register: https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/michigan-cottage-food

08/19/2026

ARTISTS Needed to public art displays

🎨✨ CALLING ALL ARTISTS! ✨🎨

Applications are NOW OPEN for the 2026 FALL ARTWALK in Downtown Hart! 🍂🖌️

The Hart Economic and Redevelopment Team (HEART) is looking for talented artists to help fill Downtown Hart with creativity this fall!

📣 PAINTERS • SCULPTORS • FIBER ARTISTS • WOODWORKERS • & MORE!

Selected artists will be paired with downtown businesses to showcase their original artwork during the Fall Artwalk. Meet and greet visitors as they tour the stops, share the story behind your work, and enjoy an afternoon celebrating art and our downtown community!

✨ ARTISTS CAN:
🎨 Display original artwork
💬 Meet and connect with visitors
🛍️ Sell their artwork during the event
🍪 Enjoy snacks and refreshments along the Artwalk

Artists should bring their own display materials.

📅 FALL ARTWALK
📍 Downtown Hart | 8–10 locations
🗓️ Saturday, October 3, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

⚠️ PLEASE NOTE: This is a juried event, and space is limited. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.

🔥 READY TO SHOW OFF YOUR ART?

Complete the artist application below to be considered for the 2026 Fall Artwalk:

👉 APPLY HERE: *PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE ON A MOBILE DEVICE YOU WILL HAVE TO OPEN LINK USING CHROME OR SAFARI* If you get a page not found error, please click on the three dots on the top right of the screen and choose "open in external browser"

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHHnoqAHYyHm-BOA7rXF3Iaefrv-MiZhqMCfzHmQE-JAl59w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=100106038465234395964

Tag an artist who needs to see this! 👇🎨

08/12/2026

Join us in the conversation on transportation and walkability in Oceana County.

Join us for a free, interactive workshop to help communities create safer, healthier, and more connected places.

08/11/2026

6 days left to vote or apply your business if you haven't already!
5x5night.com

5x5 NORTH PITCH COMPETITION – TAKE YOUR BUSINESS IDEA FOR A SPIN!
A fast-paced, community-driven pitch competition with roots in West Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is coming to Hart this summer. The Start Garden 5x5 Pitch Night will take place Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. at Birch & Blossom, showcasing local entrepreneurs and giving them a platform to bring ideas to life.

The event is presented in partnership with Start Garden and hosted by the Chamber Alliance of Mason County, Lake County Economic Development Alliance, Oceana County Economic Alliance, Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership, and The Right Place. Inspired by the original 5x5 Night concept, often described as a “Shark Tank”-style competition, five entrepreneurs will each have five minutes and five slides to pitch their idea before a panel of judges and a live audience for a chance to win a $5,000 seed investment.

Thank you to Birch & Blossom, Community Foundation for Oceana County, ITC Holdings Corp., Safe Harbor Credit Union, Lake-Osceola State Bank and all of our sponsors and partners who have helped make this event possible.

08/11/2026

Great visit from Emily and Dylan of The Right Place to spend a few hours in Oceana County. Thanks to Noble from Birch & Blossom for the tour of their new event space. We started at The Starting Block, Inc. and watched Brian and John from Green Isaac's roasting coffee. We looked at projects in City of Hart, Village of Shelby, toured Tiger Athletic & Community Center and Shelby.Acres, visited Country Dairy, Inc, Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo, Double JJ Resort, Valley City Metals, Winston Speedway - Michigan, and visited Birch & Blossom to preview the event space for our upcoming Start Garden 5x5 Night North. Curtis told them about dozens of other Oceana County businesses and organizations along the drive. We covered a lot of ground this morning and they are excited to come back and visit more places we couldn't fit in this trip.

08/03/2026

Remember to vote!

📅 Election Day is August 4, 2026

Oceana County voters will consider a proposal to renew the existing separate tax limitations for Oceana County, its 16 townships, and the Oceana Intermediate School District (now part of West Shore Educational Service District) for another 10 years.

Many residents have questions about why this proposal is on the ballot. Under Michigan's Headlee Amendment, millage rates can be automatically reduced over time as property values increase. State law requires voter approval before that lost authority can be restored.

Property taxes currently provide approximately 61% of Oceana County's General Fund revenue, helping support services and programs that contribute to public safety, public health, parks and recreation, veterans services, economic development, and other community needs.

For a home with a taxable value of $150,000, the estimated impact of restoring the County operating millage is approximately $12 per year, or about $1 per month.

We encourage all residents to learn about the proposal, ask questions, and participate in the election process.

✅ Be informed.
✅ Stay engaged.
✅ Make your voice heard.

07/31/2026

📅 Election Day is August 4, 2026

Oceana County voters will consider a proposal to renew the existing separate tax limitations for Oceana County, its 16 townships, and the Oceana Intermediate School District (now part of West Shore Educational Service District) for another 10 years.

Many residents have questions about why this proposal is on the ballot. Under Michigan's Headlee Amendment, millage rates can be automatically reduced over time as property values increase. State law requires voter approval before that lost authority can be restored.

Property taxes currently provide approximately 61% of Oceana County's General Fund revenue, helping support services and programs that contribute to public safety, public health, parks and recreation, veterans services, economic development, and other community needs.

For a home with a taxable value of $150,000, the estimated impact of restoring the County operating millage is approximately $12 per year, or about $1 per month.

We encourage all residents to learn about the proposal, ask questions, and participate in the election process.

✅ Be informed.
✅ Stay engaged.
✅ Make your voice heard.

07/31/2026

📢 Your voice matters!

Trinity Health and Trinity Health Shelby want to hear from Oceana County residents through the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Community Survey.

Every three years, community partners work together to identify the health needs, challenges, and opportunities that impact our quality of life along the Lakeshore. Your feedback helps guide future programs, services, and investments in our communities.

✅ Survey closes August 20, 2026

English Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CHNA2026

Spanish Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CHNASPAN

Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and help shape a healthier future for Oceana County!

07/30/2026

Attention contractors: Bond project opportunity discussion at Hesperia Community Schools.

Local contractors are invited to join us for an informational outreach event to learn about upcoming bond project opportunities. See the details below—we hope you'll join us!