Traverse Bay Resiliency Center to Offer Long-Term Support After Walmart Attack

The Traverse Bay Resiliency Center is preparing to open to support survivors of the July 26, 2025 violent attack at the Walmart on M-72 in Garfield Township and to offer long-term mental health and community resilience services for Grand Traverse County residents. The center is led by director Nicole Kubon and is affiliated with the Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center, organizers said.

The center’s purpose is to coordinate a range of supports for people directly and indirectly affected by the shooting, including survivors, family members, employees, patrons, and first responders. Services will focus on mental health care and community resilience, providing continuity of care beyond the immediate crisis period and helping residents navigate recovery over months and years.

Nicole Kubon will direct the center’s effort to link clients with counseling, case management, and referrals to existing community providers. The center aims to reduce fragmentation of services by acting as a single point of contact for people seeking help and by working with local mental health agencies and social service organizations. Organizers emphasize that resiliency centers do not all follow the same timetable; some wind down after weeks while others remain active for years depending on community need and demand.

Plans for outreach and resource distribution are under way. The center intends to reach out to schools, employers and community groups in Grand Traverse County to provide information about available supports and to ensure that survivors and affected residents can access help without redundant paperwork. Public health and local social services will be part of the referral network, allowing people to move from crisis support into longer-term therapy and casework when appropriate.

The opening comes after months of recovery work in the wake of the Garfield Township incident. Mental health professionals caution that traumatic events can produce delayed and persistent effects, which is why the center’s long-term focus is significant for those coping with grief, post-traumatic stress, anxiety and disruption to daily life. For a region that values community ties and mutual aid, the center is designed to anchor those local responses and to make professional help more accessible.

As the Traverse Bay Resiliency Center moves from planning to operation, residents can expect coordinated pathways to counseling and services across Grand Traverse County. The center’s lifespan will be guided by the community’s needs; what starts as immediate crisis support is intended to evolve into sustained assistance where required. The coming weeks will determine the center’s schedule for outreach and intake, and the effort marks a step toward rebuilding stability for those still affected by the Walmart attack.