Confluence follows the flow of stories across the Tittabawassee, Saginaw, and Kawkawlin corridors, capturing the interconnected momentum of a region of 400,000. By reporting on the people charting new channels and the collaborative energy building where our cities meet, Confluence serves as a unified regional platform formed by the 2026 merger of Route Bay City (est. 2018) and Catalyst Midland (est. 2017) and an expansion into Saginaw County.
A coalition, working in areas including housing, broadband, health, philanthropy, placemaking, entrepreneurship, and the arts, helped to launch RIX in November 2021, creating a unique statewide voice for rural Michigan.
Several stakeholders heard the IMG story, which led to the creation of a cross-sector coalition of funders to launch The Hub in 2020. Now, The Hub focuses on innovation, talent, entrepreneurship, and community development.
The Lakeshore West Michigan in July 2019 focuses on the dynamic communities, businesses, and residents of Allegan, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties.
Community stakeholder meetings helped launch Epicenter in 2018, sparked by the news of Catalyst Midland and Route Bay City.
The voice of emerging talent, innovation, and transformation for Northeast Indiana, Input, was launched in October 2017.
Fifteen coalition leaders launched Flintside in 2017 to tell the city’s underreported stories using embedded journalism projects to grow and cover one new neighborhood per year.
Through regional leadership, a funding coalition helped launch The Keel in 2016 to attract talent and better share the region’s story as a critical strategic priority.
Second Wave Southwest focuses on the dynamic communities, businesses, and residents of Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and the surrounding area.
UPword was born in May 2010 of ‘UP’ (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) efforts to create a more cohesive story for the UP while strengthening the network of economic development organizations working across the UP.
