News File Photo Rogers City City Manager Joe Hefele, left, and Mayor Scott McLennan, right, look at a computer screen at the city offices in this 2019 News archive photo.

ROGERS CITY — Team Rogers City initially started about six years ago to help boost events such as the city’s annual Nautical Festival, but, now, the effort involves many in the community and offers open conversations about what’s going on throughout the city.

Started by Mayor Scott McLennan, then a City Council member, Team Rogers City was originally a group of eight people wanting to talk about positive things in Rogers City. The goal was to make the community better.

They dubbed it the SuperPos group.

McLennan said he visited Boyne City, where he was originally introduced by the city manager to that city’s own group, Team Boyne City. At that point, Boyne City was designated as a Michigan Main Street Community, meaning it receives guidance and support through the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

That inspired Team Rogers City.

Rogers City was designated a Main Street Community in October.

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Team Rogers City offers open communication with both community members and officials so everyone knows what is going on with organizations, schools, and other groups. It is an open group and anyone can attend the meetings.

“So everyone talks about what’s happening in their world,” McLennan said. “It’s communication. And communication is so powerful. We’ve found that it’s tremendously powerful. Whereas I know what’s happening in the city as the mayor, I don’t know what’s necessarily happening at the school, because I am not involved at the school. And I may not know what’s happening with the various service organizations, things of that nature, or even businesses.”

McLennan said that, after the meetings, people start connecting with each other, and that helps to strengthen the community.

Before Team Rogers City started, McLennan said, there were still things going on, but it wasn’t nearly as organized as it is now.

“Now, you see more people working together, and you see people appreciating the work that’s being done,” McLennan said.

Team Rogers City also helps businesses by allowing them to introduce people to their business during the meetings.

Hayley Rose, owner of Harborside Bath and Body in downtown Rogers City, said Team Rogers City allowed her to give a presentation about her business.

Others in the community also gave presentations. She said what specifically helped her was a mention at the end of a Team Rogers City meeting during a segment during which participants talk about something positive in the city.

Rose said she opened a popup shop in November 2020 and set up a downtown permanent business in March.

She said that, overall, the reception from the community has been great.

“I just think Team RC is a great resource for businesses to use, and it’s a great way to be involved in the community and what’s going on,” Rose said. “And I would encourage businesses and residents to get involved in it the best that (they) can.”

Andrea Puchalski, an employee at Harborside Bath and Body, said the store had a good summer and sales are going really well.

Puchalski said she attends Team Rogers City meetings whenever she can and is looking forward to the Main Street program.

“I think this is just what we need,” Puchalski said. “The businesses need that coaching and that sort of help in really boosting their businesses, so I think it’s going to be a great thing. We’re really excited.”

Renick Brothers Heating and Air Conditioning is another new business in downtown Rogers City. Wes Becker, the branch manager for Michigan, said the Rogers City branch opened up in January and business has been good.

Becker said the business started off with one employee and now they have six.

Like Rose, he said the community response has been very positive. The business recently started to expand to Alpena and Cheboygan.

Becker said he’s been to a couple of Team Rogers City meetings and said McLennan has been a big help.

“Scott McLennan has been a big help to us just with getting our name out there and different offers that they’ve made to help,” Becker said. “So, it’s nice to be involved with the community.”

Alyssa Ochss can be reached at 989-358-5680 or aochss@thealpenanews.com.