Confluence | Great Lakes Bay Region, MI | 2026

Confluence Great Lakes Bay Region captures the stories of talent, investment, and community solutions shaping the future of Mid-Michigan. Launched in January 2026, the publication represents a significant regional expansion and the unification of two established local journalism institutions: Route Bay City (est. 2018) and Catalyst Midland (est. 2017).

The evolution into a regional platform follows the success of stakeholder-led models in both Bay and Midland counties. Route was launched in 2018 after a regional leadership coalition of 20+ organizations invited Issue Media Group to focus on the dynamic growth of Bay County. Similarly, Catalyst was established in 2017 through a series of community meetings hosted by the Midland Area Community Foundation and a coalition of local partners.

By merging these two platforms and expanding coverage into Saginaw County, Confluence reflects the interconnected momentum of a region of 400,000. The name is evocative of the Tittabawassee, Saginaw, and Kawkawlin rivers—waterways that connected these communities long before highways did. Today, Confluence follows that same flow of ideas, focusing on what’s next in entrepreneurship, creative culture, and economic development across Bay City, Midland, Saginaw, and the places in between.

The publication is produced in partnership with a coalition of local organizations dedicated to regional collaboration and the power of solutions-oriented storytelling.