Small businesses play a crucial role in community building, job creation and driving the local economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), over 900,000 small businesses employ nearly half of Michigan’s workforce. These companies play a vital role in the state’s economic health. A key factor for their smooth operation and success is dependable, affordable energy.
The heart of local business
Take, for example, St. Ignace in Bloom Greenhouse and Florist, a family-owned business run by husband-and-wife Alex and Samantha. This business has flourished by providing northern Michigan with fresh and stunning floral arrangements for weddings, events and daily occasions. But the shop’s behind-the-scenes success depends significantly on a reliable energy supply to keep refrigerators running and delivery vehicles on the road. “We depend on energy to sustain our shop and greenhouse. The fans in the greenhouse, the fertilizer and containers we use, they all rely on oil and natural gas,” says Alex.
St. Ignace in Bloom depends on energy for everything from climate control in its greenhouse to fueling its delivery vehicles and heating the shop during Michigan’s cold winters.
Enbridge’s Line 5 delivers propane to heat homes, power businesses and fuel the Michigan economy. Without this affordable and stable supply of propane, businesses like St. Ignace in Bloom would face significant disruptions, affecting not just their bottom line but also their ability to serve their community.
Similarly, Bière de Mac Brew Works, an award-winning brewery in Mackinaw City, is another small business that relies on steady energy. Owned and operated by a father-son duo, this craft brewery is the only microbrewery of its type in the Straits of Mackinac. For founders George and Danny Ranville, dependable energy is essential for both the brewing process and the day-to-day operations of their business.
“We realize that the energy we get through the pipeline is crucial to what we do here,” adds George, a former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. “We need propane. We need it for brewing beer. We need it for our heat. We need it for hot water.”
Enbridge’s Line 5 not only provides reliable energy to small businesses like St. Ignace in Bloom and Bière de Mac Brew Works, but it also supports the broader Michigan economy.
Energizing Michigan’s small businesses and the economy
The importance of reliable energy extends beyond individual businesses. The dependable energy from Line 5 is vital for households, businesses and industries statewide.
Enbridge’s Line 5 is crucial for Michigan, providing 55% of the state’s propane and 65% for the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan. Its continuous operation is critical to avoiding disruptions that might increase energy costs, affect local refineries, and impact the economy and energy security.
The link between energy and small businesses is undeniable. In Michigan, small businesses form the backbone of local economies. In fact, 99% of businesses across the state are classified as small businesses, with fewer than 500 employees. For St. Ignace in Bloom and Bière de Mac Brew Works, their energy needs will remain important. By advocating for reliable energy sources like Enbridge’s Line 5, they ensure the stable energy necessary to keep operations running smoothly and support the prosperity of their community.
Looking ahead
These stories highlight the importance of energy infrastructure like Enbridge’s Line 5 for the daily operations and long-term sustainability of small businesses. With affordable, dependable energy, they can continue to serve their communities, create jobs and boost Michigan’s economy.
As Enbridge looks to the future, it remains focused on safely, reliably and efficiently transporting the energy needed by the region. Building the Great Lakes Tunnel to house pipeline infrastructure as it crosses the waters of the Straits of Mackinac remains a top modernization priority for the company to protect communities, the environment and energy supplies.
Article courtesy of Enbridge.
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