Vanguard & 834Michigan-based Vanguard Public Affairs and 834 Design & Marketing on Sunday announced a strategic partnership that they say will better serve clients.

Lansing, Michigan-based Vanguard focuses on strategic communications, policy and fundraising consulting while Grand Rapids, Michigan-based 834 Design provides content marketing, communications, public relations, social media, website design and special event counsel.

Together, the agencies have a combined team of 14 employees. However, the partnership is not a formal merger, so both agencies will be able to maintain their independence.

"Together, our firms can compete with any other choice in the region, and we're looking forward to better serving our customers with this innovative new approach to public relations and marketing," TJ Bucholz, CEO of Vanguard Public Affairs, said in a statement.