September 2025
In a tricky labor market, a whirlwind of changing tariff policies and Traverse City’s own growth and evolution, how is the area’s robust manufacturing sector doing these days? To find out, we reached out to eight manufacturers from the Grand Traverse region and asked them about recent triumphs, pressing challenges and their letter grades for future outlook.
Ryan Kennedy, Britten
Products manufactured: Britten, Inc. is an event fabricator with eight manufacturing facilities on our creative campus in Traverse City. Our manufacturing is diverse and includes grand format digital printing – think printed materials that cover entire buildings – as well as custom wood millwork, 3D foam sculpting, 3D printing, aluminum extrusion processing, custom metal fabrication and custom shipping container conversion. We produce our products for marketing events and activations, sporting events, music festivals, retails displays and brand promotion across North America.
Highlight of the past year: In the past year, we have produced several entire scenic sets of 5,000-plus square feet for family entertainment activations for the kids characters like Bluey and the Smurfs. These events were highly successful for our customers, and what stood out for us is that we utilized every capability on our creative campus to bring them to life.
Biggest challenge: I believe there are two. First, the continued need for growing a skilled workforce and having the housing availability to support this growth. Second, logistics. Our location in northern Lower Michigan puts us at a bit of a disadvantage, and delivering our products nationwide in a cost-effective and timely manner is certainly a challenge.
The Grand Traverse region’s biggest need to grow manufacturing: A Traverse City-based apprenticeship program for manufactures in partnership with the local education system that can help develop the future manufacturing workforce. That would go a long way in helping many manufacturers in our area.
Impact of tariffs, on a scale of 1-10: Six. We have experienced pricing increases on our purchased materials, and any time a manufacturer faces price increases on materials, it creates a lot of work. This situation leads to us evaluating our internal costs to identify ways of offsetting the increases, reviewing our customer pricing strategy and qualifying alternative sources of supply, to name a few. The part of the recent tariffs that I believe has a lot of manufacturers scratching their heads is the ‘on again/off again’ approach. A lot of work is done to plan and adjust to the proposed tariffs, only for them to be delayed.
Letter grade for future outlook: A. We are very excited about the future growth of the events industry in North America and about Britten’s capabilities to support this market.
Tim Healy, Century LLC (Century Specialties, Century SUN Metal Treating, and Clark Manufacturing)
Products manufactured: Century and Clark began as separate family-owned-and-operated precision machining and heat-treating companies. We continue that tradition today, still operated under the traditional names, but as one Dauch family-owned company.
Highlight of the past year: Certainly, the signing of a seven-year contract with Bell Flight to produce flight safety critical parts for their line of light civil helicopters while simultaneously quadrupling our production.
Biggest challenge: The biggest challenge continues to be finding talent in the skilled trades for our machining and thermal processing operations.
The Grand Traverse region’s biggest need to grow manufacturing: The biggest impediment to finding people is the high cost and limited availability of housing for our workforce, especially the closer one gets to the center of Traverse City. We have people commuting daily from 20-30 miles away. That commute is a stress on their them, their families and their budgets.
Impact of tariffs, on a scale of 1-10: That would be about a four, but not in the way you might assume. We don’t use a lot of imported raw materials so we haven’t seen those costs, but we are seeing a slowdown in those industries that we support who rely on cross-border material flows, such as the automotive industry and the tooling suppliers that support automotive production.
Letter grade for future outlook: Definitely an A. We are a well-diversified company supporting everything from aerospace and defense vehicle components, to energy infrastructure, industrial tooling and automotive tooling and support. That diversification, combined with our company-wide adoption of effective LEAN manufacturing principles by our highly disciplined and skilled workforce, have positioned us very well for continued success.
Roni Hazelton, Cherry Republic
Products manufactured: We make the world’s best cherry-based food products! This includes a line of salsa, jam, sauces, cookies, granola, ice-cream and pie.
Highlight of the past year: We have expanded our distribution and fulfillment center to include a freezer to house our components and finished goods. This upgrade will be a tremendous tool for us, as we currently lease freezer storage all over the state and can now bring these items to our main campus in Empire.
Biggest challenge: Finding and keeping talent.
The Grand Traverse region’s biggest need to grow manufacturing: Attracting talent that stays after the training period. We invest a lot of resources in training our employees, and turnover is not only expensive, it’s also heavy for the staff picking up extra tasks to keep everything running well.
Impact of tariffs, on a scale of 1-10: Seven. We have a packaging component that is manufactured overseas and our order was very delayed due to unpredictable tariffs.
Letter grade for future outlook: B. The landscape is continually changing, particularly over the last five years, and requires patience, flexibility and the ability to quickly pivot. Businesses that allow for this change and work with it will continue to move forward in a positive way.
Christie Knable, Grand Traverse Plastics
Products manufactured: Grand Traverse Plastics (GTP) is a leader in high-volume, custom plastic injection molded components. We started in 1981 with Kwikee Kwivers and we haven’t stopped. Today, GTP is known for our diversification across the automotive and industrial sectors, producing everything from complex oil-fill cap and tube assemblies to large engine covers and conveyor components. Our expertise spans traditional, hybrid and fully electric vehicle parts.
Highlight of the past year: Earning the General Motors Supplier of the Year award for the fifth time. This recognition isn’t just an award; it’s a testament to our team’s consistent excellence, innovation and unwavering commitment to being a world-class partner.
Biggest challenge: The most significant challenge facing manufacturers in Traverse City right now is the extreme increase in insurance costs. This trend has a direct impact on our operational budgets and, consequently, on our ability to grow and invest.
The Grand Traverse region’s biggest need to grow manufacturing: The ideal solution would be a reversal of the current trend of soaring insurance premiums. This would free up significant capital to reinvest in technology, talent and strategic initiatives that benefit both our employees and our business.
Impact of tariffs, on a scale of 1-10: I would rate the impact of tariffs as a 10. The impact is with components that are in our resin mixtures and others that are directed buys from our customers. While a challenge, it has been a catalyst for growth, not just change. The uncertainty has forced us to work even more closely with both our suppliers and customers, driving a new wave of creativity and innovation that has reinforced our reputation as a trusted partner that solves problems.
Letter grade for future outlook: We’re extremely bullish about our future, giving us an A+ outlook. The current environment, while challenging, is a critical time for American manufacturing to demonstrate its value. We see an immense opportunity to showcase our innovation and problem-solving skills, solidifying our role as a trusted partner for new and existing customers. Our tagline, ‘local craftsmanship, global impact,’ has never been more relevant. We are confident in our talented team and our ability to thrive in this period of growth and change.
Penny Challender, Hayes Manufacturing
Products manufactured: Hayes Manufacturing specializes in designing and producing high-performance power transmission components for the domestic and international off-highway market. Our product lineup includes flywheel couplings, bearing-supported stub shaft assemblies, generator drives and engine housings – each engineered to meet the specific demands of industrial and mobile equipment applications.
Highlight of the past year: Our most significant milestone this year was the addition of a 14,000 square-foot facility in Fife Lake. This expansion boosts our production capacity, streamlines operations and positions us for future growth as we continue to meet increasing customer demand.
Biggest challenge: One of the most pressing challenges facing manufacturers in the region is workforce availability. Whether skilled or entry-level, attracting individuals who see manufacturing as a long-term career path has become increasingly complex.
The Grand Traverse region’s biggest need to grow manufacturing: To address workforce challenges, our most significant need is improved access to affordable housing and more options for quality child care. These community resources are essential for attracting and retaining employees who want to build their lives and careers right here in our region.
Impact of tariffs, on a scale of 1-10: Six. The frequent shifts in tariff policy make it difficult to plan effectively, and we’ve seen some cost increases from vendors as a result. This uncertainty is likely contributing to a softer order backlog for the third and fourth quarters of 2025.
Letter grade for future outlook: B. Sales have been flat in 2025, but we’re optimistic about 2026. Feedback from our customers and trends in the rental market – particularly aging construction equipment – suggest a gradual uptick beginning in the first quarter of 2026.
Bill Myers, Promethient
Products manufactured: Thermavance heating and cooling technology used in powersports, marine, golf carts and stadium seating.
Highlight of the past year: Since January, Promethient has successfully installed Thermavance-equipped stadium seating in three MLB parks and one NFL stadium.
Biggest challenge: For Promethient, there is continued uncertainty regarding tariffs. As we are a small manufacturing business, it is especially challenging to dedicate resources to explore different suppliers and validate their products for alignment with our applications and requirements.
The Grand Traverse region’s biggest need to grow manufacturing: While not as large of a challenge for Promethient, other manufacturers continue to be challenged in hiring employees who also can have access to affordable housing.
Impact of tariffs, on a scale of 1-10: Seven. The chaotic manner in which tariffs are being deployed has resulted in a variety of costly false starts. Additionally, as with any company impacted by tariffs, Promethient also must determine the commercial viability of passing on additional tariff costs to our customers.
Letter grade for future outlook: A. Our team will continue to focus on what we can control in all aspects of the business, including developing our supply chains.
Jason Warren, Shoreline Fruit
Products manufactured: On an annual basis we grow, harvest and process 50-60 million pounds of cherries, all grown in Michigan. We make frozen cherries for the dessert and ingredient markets, a variety of dried cherries, maraschino cherries, fresh-pressed cherry juice, cherry juice concentrate, nutraceutical grade cherry powders, cherry paste and cherry pits for pellet stoves. We sell our dried fruit and juice products through our retail brand, Cherry Bay Orchards, which can be found in large retailers like Meijer, Costco, Kroger, Walmart and Publix, and at local retailers like Tom’s and Oleson’s. We also sell in bulk to hundreds of ingredient, re-bagger, bakery, nutraceutical and beverage customers all over the world.
Highlight of the past year: Innovation, automation and deployment of various technologies across our organization in the last four years have helped us to better measure and report on performance, improve efficiency, increase output and decrease costs, making us more competitive in the market.
Biggest challenge: The changing climate and the extreme weather events are our primary challenges to maintaining a consistent cherry crop from year to year. The cost of replanting and covering preproduction costs on new orchards – you have to grow the tree five to seven years before getting your first crop – is also a challenge as the orchards in the region age out. And while there are a lot of resources, grants and low-interest financing opportunities for tech companies, service businesses and other types of businesses in the region, the resources to support farming and agricultural businesses are not as robust or sufficiently funded.
The Grand Traverse region’s biggest need to grow manufacturing: If we are going to be serious about preserving the agricultural heritage that has been a backbone of the culture and character of this region, there is going to need to be more support and resources deployed and made available to address the unique challenges and problems these businesses face. Between land costs and demand, equipment needs and the significant startup costs for new orchards, growers in the area are facing increasingly difficult hurdles to overcome.
Impact of tariffs, on a scale of 1-10: Two. We grow about 85% of the products that go through our plants, so no tariff impacts there. COVID already taught us about the importance of shortening our supply lines and onshoring as much of our supplies and ingredients as possible, so the impact there has also been minimal, too. Thankfully, the limited products that we do source from Canada, Mexico and Latin America are mostly exempt from tariffs – so far.
On the positive side, the tariffs have already stemmed the flow of imported food products into the United States from other countries that do not adhere to the environmental, safety and human rights regulations that we operate under here. Without these costs attached to them, these products have been unfairly competing with U.S. growers and food manufacturers for years and have taken significant market share.
Letter grade for future outlook: B. The food products that we produce are not milk, eggs and bread. They are more expensive, and will be the first products that will not go into the shopping cart if budgets get tight. We are already seeing the sales of our highest priced products soften as shoppers curtail purchases to fit their already stretched budgets. I’m betting inflation continues for a while longer as we move through tariffs and other uncertainties in the market. On the flip side, we have benefited from a more discerning, health-conscious consumer that is willing to pay more for a premium product. As we have shifted our emphasis from simply being a food company to also being a health products company we have had a lot of success in the market.
Matt Davis, WarBird Protection Group
Products manufactured: Body armor for first responders and military personnel.
Highlight of the past year: We were awarded a $750,000 grant through the MEDC’s Strategic Fund to help us establish operations in Kalkaska. The grant requires us to invest at least $2,750,000 into the project and to create 110 new jobs over the next five years.
Biggest challenge: While I can’t speak for others, our challenges are the same most startups face. Tasks like setting up supply chains, developing products, training employees and penetrating markets are all necessary to take a business from zero to hero. Luckily for us, we have a great team with strong ties to suppliers and customers.
The Grand Traverse region’s biggest need to grow manufacturing: All of our challenges have one thing in common: They take time and money to overcome. For companies in startup and growth phases, access to capital is hugely important.
Impact of tariffs, on a scale of 1-10: Four. We have another side of our business focused on ear and eye protection imported from Asia. The tariffs have had marginal impact on our business from that regard.
Letter grade for future outlook: I give our outlook an A, because we are uniquely positioned with the right experience, skills and connections to make significant market penetration in the coming year. Manufacturing will serve as the backbone of our success, because it will drive customer satisfaction through on-time delivery and exceptional quality.
