Then and Now

The values of member-focus, safety, reliability, and affordability are the same today as they were almost 90 years ago when Cherryland first turned the lights on. While our core mission has remained the same, the cooperative has changed quite a bit over the years.


By the time the cooperative moved to its current headquarters in Grawn, we had grown exponentially and have continued too since. In the over 51 years we have been in our current headquarters building, we have seen membership grow by 317%, miles of line by 140% and employees by 72%. Based on 5-year growth trends we will most likely more than double our membership in the next 50 years.

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Membership Growth Since 1972
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Miles of Line Growth Since 1972
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Employee Growth Since 1972

The cooperative’s growth is now outpacing the capacity at our current facility in a way that could possibly impact our mission. We will continue to operate as lean as possible, however as our membership grows, our resources will need to grow too in order to keep up the service members deserve. This is why Cherryland has decided to move forward with a plan for a new headquarters so that current and future Cherryland members will continue to appreciate the same foundation as those in the past and even more reliable electricity.

Stay up to date on the journey by exploring our timeline below.

Cherries

Previous Updates 

We know transparency is important when it comes to Cherryland’s new facility project. Throughout the planning process, we’ve shared updates in a variety of ways to keep members informed. Below, you’ll find a timeline of key communications and announcements we’ve made along the way.

Cherries

Frequently Asked Questions

We know you may have questions about Cherryland’s new facility project. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions. For additional updates, see our recent media mentions in the dropdown below.

  • Simply put, we have outgrown our facility in nearly every way. When our current headquarters was built in 1972, Cherryland had 36 employees and served 9,408 members. We now have 65 employees and serve over 39,000 members. In addition to the growth of cooperative employees and members, warehouse overload, inventory storage, and security are all major factors that went into this decision. In this new facility, Cherryland will be able to be more member-focused, safer, more reliable, and more affordable.

  • We did investigate the option of continuing to renovate the current facility, as we have been looking into every possible option and what is best for the cooperative. The renovation needed to keep this headquarters feasible for our employees and members would cost the cooperative a similar amount to a new facility. In addition, based on the current location and projected growth, soon the cooperative would reach a time when renovation is no longer possible. Planning for a new build now is the most responsible decision.

  • While we do not know the exact costs right now, we will continue to move forward in the most fiscally responsible manner possible. We will abide by our affordability tenant and do our best to limit the cost incurred by our members. While there may be more of a cost upfront, the new facility will save members money and reliability over time. As we move forward, we will continue with our transparent and open communication regarding our financials with our members.

  • We purchased a lot off Rennie School Road in Garfield Township just a few miles northeast of our current headquarters. This location will still be in Traverse City, as it is the most central of our service area, to keep restoration times quick for all members.

  • While we have been discussing the possibility of new facilities for a while, we are continuing to work to ensure we are making the best decisions for the current and future cooperative. We are still in the planning phase, and will continue to keep members updated, you can always check the timeline above to keep tabs on the progress.

  • It is our intent not to disrupt members’ services as we move forward in this process. If any changes or disruptions in our processes need to be made, we will continue to communicate those notices to our members.

Further Questions?

We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to give us a call at (231) 486-9200 or send us an email at [email protected].