On Monday, May 12, community leaders and residents gathered at The Playhouse at White Lake for the 2025 Legislative Breakfast, hosted by the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. The event marked the return of a local tradition—bringing together elected officials, business professionals, and citizens to discuss Michigan’s legislative landscape and local priorities.
With breakfast catered by The Gnarly Heifer and a full morning of programming, attendees heard directly from state representatives and county leadership about the issues shaping our region and state.
Opening the Conversation
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Stephanie Ware, Executive Director of the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau, who expressed excitement over the return of the legislative gathering. She acknowledged the event’s growth from past legislative lunches and thanked sponsors for making the breakfast possible.
Brent Raeth, Managing Partner of CatchMark Technologies, delivered a lighthearted and meaningful message as the Gold Sponsor. He reflected on CatchMark’s role in solving tech problems and supporting local businesses across managed IT, cybersecurity, media, and broadband services. Raeth reminded attendees that being great teammates and showing up with purpose are at the heart of strong communities.
Rich Houtteman, representing Consumers Energy as Silver Sponsor, honored outgoing Whitehall City Manager Scott Huebler and commended the Chamber for creating space for thoughtful civic engagement.
Legislative Update: Wendy Block, Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Wendy Block, Senior VP of Business Advocacy for the Michigan Chamber, outlined key policy issues in Lansing, including:
- The recent resolution of the earned sick time and minimum wage debate, noting that the legislature acted just in time to pass new mandates and avoid stricter ballot-driven versions.
- The critical need for a long-term road funding solution, with Block emphasizing the $3–4 billion annual gap and how the state must identify sustainable revenue sources.
- A look ahead to the 2026 election landscape, including the open governor and U.S. Senate races, and the importance of civic and business engagement in shaping Michigan’s direction.
Block’s message emphasized bipartisan wins, challenges ahead, and how policies from Lansing impact local businesses in real time.
Panel Discussion Highlights
Representative Curt VanderWall – Health Care & Rural Access
Rep. Curt VanderWall (R–District 102) focused on his work as Chair of the House Health Policy Committee, particularly:
- Increasing access to care in rural areas.
- Addressing high provider turnover and medical graduates leaving Michigan—only about 45% stay in-state.
- Advocating for nursing and therapy compacts to streamline licensing and allow cross-state practice.
VanderWall also stressed the importance of bipartisan relationships in Lansing, sharing that he and Rep. Snyder frequently work across party lines to craft legislation and put Muskegon-area priorities first.
On housing, he highlighted how rural areas often struggle to qualify for state-supported housing programs due to infrastructure limitations, and called for more flexibility and public-private partnerships like the Shelby Acres project in Oceana County.
Representative Will Snyder – Budget, Regulation, & Housing
Rep. Will Snyder (D–Muskegon, 87th House District), serving on multiple House Appropriations subcommittees, spoke about:
- The importance of permitting and regulatory reform, sharing examples like outdated liquor license rules affecting local businesses.
- A legislative focus on finding efficiencies in the 2025-26 state budget, avoiding cuts that harm essential services.
- Leading efforts to secure $50 million per year in corporate income tax allocations toward affordable housing via MSHDA—a program he helped preserve during budget negotiations.
Snyder also spoke proudly about preserving the tipped wage credit during earned sick time negotiations, noting that over 85% of industry workers supported its protection. He emphasized that even when outcomes aren’t perfect, compromise and dialogue help move Michigan forward.
Mark Eisenbarth – County Housing, Infrastructure, & Collaboration
Muskegon County Administrator Mark Eisenbarth provided insight into local-level challenges and solutions:
- The county’s recent housing study showed a need for over 9,000 new housing units, and Eisenbarth outlined steps taken, including hiring a county housing coordinator to work with municipalities and pursue grants.
- He shared progress on the Coopersville wastewater pipeline, a $65 million project made possible through state, local, and private collaboration. This project not only supports agribusiness expansion but creates shared cost benefits for all communities on the system—including the White Lake area.
- He emphasized the county’s transportation improvement efforts, including a potential return of on-demand services like Go2 to help address workforce access and mobility.
Eisenbarth also encouraged local leaders to support the revitalized Muskegon County Airport, now serviced by a new airline and offering more reliable flight options.
Looking Forward
Chamber Executive Director Stephanie Ware closed the morning by thanking the community for its strong turnout and interest in open dialogue. She emphasized that while policies take time to shape, events like the Legislative Breakfast play a vital role in fostering understanding and cooperation.
“Change doesn’t happen overnight,” Ware said. “But it starts with conversations like these—and we’re proud to be building that momentum together.”
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