Upcoming expo to shine spotlight on Vanderbilt businesses ‘hidden in plain sight’

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Upcoming expo to shine spotlight on Vanderbilt businesses ‘hidden in plain sight’

VANDERBILT — There are 60 businesses operating in the area around Corwith Township and the village of Vanderbilt in Otsego County. According to Lisa McComb, executive director of the Otsego County Economic Alliance, many of them are “hidden in plain sight.”

In an effort to bring more attention to the area, McComb, along with business and community leaders, will be presenting a Business Expo from 3-7 pm. on Friday, Feb. 7 and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Vanderbilt Area School gymnasium at 947 Donovan St.

“This is the first time the Vanderbilt area has done anything like this and we want to find a way to let everyone know there are thriving businesses in their own backyard,” said McComb.

The Vanderbilt Area School will host a Business Expo from 3-7 pm. on Friday, Feb. 7 and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 in the gymnasium.

Because many of the businesses are home-based and lack a retail front, some residents may not be aware of the breadth and diversity in the area, according to McComb.

For example, sometime next summer the Vanderbilt Vines on Thumb Lake Road will be opening the first winery in Otsego County.

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provides boarding for horses and riding lessons.

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is now under new ownership, which has invested heavily into the operation, noted McComb.

The Otsego County Economic Alliance did a community survey in the area about 18 months ago.

“We also did a traffic analysis and we learned there are about 4,000 vehicles a day coming off I-75 at exit 290 in Vanderbilt. About 3,000 of those vehicles turn east to go into Vanderbilt going through the village and 1,000 go west toward Northwest Michigan. Of the 3,000 traveling through Vanderbilt, approximately 750 vehicles on average per day turn east onto East Main Street traveling to the Pigeon River Country State Forest,” McComb said.

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This flyer provides information about the upcoming Vanderbilt Business Expo.

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McComb said Vanderbilt’s downtown has been under utilized.

“They have some vacant buildings. We hope that people start to realize that there may be an opportunity alongside the existing businesses. Someone may want to come in and put in a sub shop or a bike rental shop. These are businesses that would be attractive to residents, commuters and tourists,” said McComb.

Many of the local firms will have tables at the business expo and McComb wants Otsego County and local residents to become aware of existing businesses, like a home-based butcher shop or a well and septic company.

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at *****@*****.tld.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review:

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