Description
Catalyzing resources to drive economic vitality in west michigan.
!"# %&'( )*+,-#++
,-!#..,/#-0# 1#231!
CATALYZING RESOURCES TO DRIVE ECONOMIC VITALITY IN WEST MICHIGAN
4"5 !"# )*+,-#++ ,-!#..,/#-0#
1#231! 67!!#1+
The Lakeshore Advantage team meets one-on-one with over 300 area
business owners and C-level executives each year. We learn about each
company’s opportunities and challenges, and how we can support their
continued success.
The information gathered through the Business Intelligence program
equips us to customize our services to support expansion, talent
development and recruitment, ?nancing, supply chain management
and marketing. The data also provide a snapshot of the region’s
business environment and serve as a metric for the success of
economic development initiatives.
The data in this report represent interviews gathered from Jan 1, 2014 to
December 31, 2014 by Lakeshore Advantage team members.
#8#0*!,9# +*66715
Area companies continue to grow at a very strong pace. Cultivated by years of consistent
investment in research and development, our economic landscape is yielding innovative new
products and services. In fact, sales have increased in more than 77% of area businesses.
While a majority of companies project continued growth and the development of new
products, many have identi?ed talent acquisition as their greatest challenge.
Steady growth is driving strong demand for quali?ed talent in a tightening labor
market. The Business Intelligence Report identi?ed this trend several years ago.
Working in collaboration with other community organizations, we have deployed
innovative programs to begin to meet that demand. However, continued
investment and collaboration to provide the needed talent will be critical to
ensure the area remains vibrant and competitive for years to come.
Magna Glass in Holland was looking for a new opportunity
when Ford offered a design competition for its 2015 F-150 rear
window. Magna was not the incumbent on the project, so
they approached the competition with an innovative spirit,
rethinking a basic assembly that’s been used for years.
The result, the PureView Seamless Slider not only won
the competition, but also helped the company reopen
a previously closed facility, creating 125 new jobs in
Holland. By focusing on innovation, Magna Glass has
become the market leader in its top three product
lines, recently winning an Automotive News PACE
Award for innovation.
67/-7 0"7-/#+ !"#
,-:*+!15 7-: 01#7!#+ ;3)+
Businesses in our region continue to turn to new
products to grow sales and market share. Consistent
investment in research and development means more
innovations are on the way.
,--397!,3- :1,9#+
-#4 213:*0!+
COMPANIES SPENDING
MORE ON R&D
COMPANIES
REPORTING PRIMARY
PRODUCT OR SERVICE
SALES GROWTH
3< 03627-,#+
4,.. ,-!13:*0#
-#4 213:*0!+
,- !"# -#8!
% 5#71+
3< 03627-,#+
,-!13:*0#:
-#4 213:*0!+
,- !"# .7+!
( 5#71+
=(
>
?&
>
77% increasing
2% decreasing
21% no change
%&'@
(%
>
%&'A
A(
>
Many dairy products consumed every day start
with powdered milk from West Michigan. Last year,
Continental Dairy earned the 2014 Michigan Ag Exporter
of the Year award for their impressive international export
growth, innovation and continued pursuit of new markets.
The company, based in Coopersville, produces 300,000 lbs
of nonfat dry milk daily, distributing it to North Africa, Mexico,
Southeast Asia and domestically.
Continental has placed a strong focus on innovation to achieve
the best quality through sustainable practices, both at their
plant and throughout their dairy milk supply chain. The company
started producing powdered milk in 2010, and through their co-op
partnership with Select Milk Producers and a strategic marketing
partnership with Gavelon, a commodities marketer/broker, they have
grown international sales signi?cantly in the past two years and now
employ 80 team members.
03-!,-#-!7. :7,15 /134+
,-!#1-7!,3-7. )*+,-#++
About three out of four businesses interviewed reported increased sales in 2014, setting the stage for continued,
healthy investment in capital expansions and new hires. What’s more, those businesses marking a decrease in sales
dropped four points from 2013.
,-01#7+,-/ +7.#+
A'
>
%&'A
%&'A
%
>
(@
>
CC
>
C@
>
'C&&
CC
>
%&'@ %&'A
futurePREP’d
SM
is a collaborative program organized by Ottawa Area
Intermediate School District, and originally designed through partnerships
with Haworth, Herman Miller, Lakeshore Advantage and the Michigan West
Coast Chamber of Commerce. The initiative creates a direct connection
between kindergarten through 12th grade students, educators, and
over 50 participating businesses and community organizations through
immersion experiences, internships, video curriculum and special skills
training programs. futurePREP’d
SM
equips students with 21st Century
skills and engages them with real-world experiences to ensure
success with their career-based goals. It also prepares students to be
highly motivated, entry-level talent for the future workforce.
Ottawa County leads the state in “upskilling”
Leading the state for the second year in a row, Lakeshore
Advantage partnered with Ottawa County Michigan Works to
secure over $800,000 in Skilled Trades Training Funds. These
are competitive awards for employer-driven programs that
train employees in new skills and increase retention. Thirty-
seven local companies bene?ted from these funds, training
902 existing and 187 new employees.
)*+,-#++#+ 271!-#1 4,!"
+0"33.+ !3 :#9#.32 !7.#-!
2
0
0
5
2
0
0
6
2
0
0
7
2
0
0
8
2
0
0
9
2
0
1
0
2
0
1
1
2
0
1
2
2
0
1
3
2
0
1
4
5.2
%
5.5
5.7
6.8
12.4
10.3
8.1
6.6
6.2
4.7
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Several years of rapid growth
and success among Lakeshore
businesses have created thousands
of new jobs for the community. As a
result, we saw a 50% drop in Ottawa
County’s unemployment rate in 2014
to a level not-seen since 2005.
172,: /134!"
:#67-:+ !7.#-!
COMPANIES EXPERIENCING
CHALLENGE WITH
RECRUITING TALENT
COMPANIES
WITH UNFILLED
POSITIONS
OTTAWA COUNTY
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
US Bureau of Labor and Statistics
33% increasing
64% stabilized
3% decreasing
%&'@
C'
>
%&'A
CB
>
Each year, Ottawa County businesses employ nearly 400 interns from
around the state, nation and world. Lakeshore Advantage works with an
array of partners to help these talented individuals see that West Michigan
is the best place to live, work and play through the Smart Coast initiative.
With educational events and promotional efforts, Smart Coast exposes
interns to our region’s most attractive features including community,
career opportunities and quality of life.
1#!7,-,-/ ,-!#1-+
Participating companies became more concerned about growth challenges in 2014, especially the tightening
market for skilled labor.
!7.#-! /72 :1,9#+ ,-!#1-7. ,-9#+!6#-!
COMPANIES
INCREASING
TRAINING SPENDING
of these companies are
concerned about skilled
labor supply in 2014.
COMPANIES
CONCERNED THERE
ARE BARRIERS
TO GROWTH IN
OTTAWA COUNTY
%&'@ %&'@ %&'A %&'A
A
'
>
(
?
>
(B
>
@
'
>
@
C
>
In 2014, Lakeshore Advantage worked on 62 expansion projects, bringing over $10.5 million in value to
lakeshore businesses and over $250 million in new private sector investment.
.7D#+"31# 7:97-!7/#E )5 !"# -*6)#1+
#827-+,3-
213;#0!+
7++,+!#: )5
.7D#+"31#
7:97-!7/#
6,..,3-
.307.E +!7!# F
Catalyzing resources to drive economic vitality in west michigan.
!"# %&'( )*+,-#++
,-!#..,/#-0# 1#231!
CATALYZING RESOURCES TO DRIVE ECONOMIC VITALITY IN WEST MICHIGAN
4"5 !"# )*+,-#++ ,-!#..,/#-0#
1#231! 67!!#1+
The Lakeshore Advantage team meets one-on-one with over 300 area
business owners and C-level executives each year. We learn about each
company’s opportunities and challenges, and how we can support their
continued success.
The information gathered through the Business Intelligence program
equips us to customize our services to support expansion, talent
development and recruitment, ?nancing, supply chain management
and marketing. The data also provide a snapshot of the region’s
business environment and serve as a metric for the success of
economic development initiatives.
The data in this report represent interviews gathered from Jan 1, 2014 to
December 31, 2014 by Lakeshore Advantage team members.
#8#0*!,9# +*66715
Area companies continue to grow at a very strong pace. Cultivated by years of consistent
investment in research and development, our economic landscape is yielding innovative new
products and services. In fact, sales have increased in more than 77% of area businesses.
While a majority of companies project continued growth and the development of new
products, many have identi?ed talent acquisition as their greatest challenge.
Steady growth is driving strong demand for quali?ed talent in a tightening labor
market. The Business Intelligence Report identi?ed this trend several years ago.
Working in collaboration with other community organizations, we have deployed
innovative programs to begin to meet that demand. However, continued
investment and collaboration to provide the needed talent will be critical to
ensure the area remains vibrant and competitive for years to come.
Magna Glass in Holland was looking for a new opportunity
when Ford offered a design competition for its 2015 F-150 rear
window. Magna was not the incumbent on the project, so
they approached the competition with an innovative spirit,
rethinking a basic assembly that’s been used for years.
The result, the PureView Seamless Slider not only won
the competition, but also helped the company reopen
a previously closed facility, creating 125 new jobs in
Holland. By focusing on innovation, Magna Glass has
become the market leader in its top three product
lines, recently winning an Automotive News PACE
Award for innovation.
67/-7 0"7-/#+ !"#
,-:*+!15 7-: 01#7!#+ ;3)+
Businesses in our region continue to turn to new
products to grow sales and market share. Consistent
investment in research and development means more
innovations are on the way.
,--397!,3- :1,9#+
-#4 213:*0!+
COMPANIES SPENDING
MORE ON R&D
COMPANIES
REPORTING PRIMARY
PRODUCT OR SERVICE
SALES GROWTH
3< 03627-,#+
4,.. ,-!13:*0#
-#4 213:*0!+
,- !"# -#8!
% 5#71+
3< 03627-,#+
,-!13:*0#:
-#4 213:*0!+
,- !"# .7+!
( 5#71+
=(
>
?&
>
77% increasing
2% decreasing
21% no change
%&'@
(%
>
%&'A
A(
>
Many dairy products consumed every day start
with powdered milk from West Michigan. Last year,
Continental Dairy earned the 2014 Michigan Ag Exporter
of the Year award for their impressive international export
growth, innovation and continued pursuit of new markets.
The company, based in Coopersville, produces 300,000 lbs
of nonfat dry milk daily, distributing it to North Africa, Mexico,
Southeast Asia and domestically.
Continental has placed a strong focus on innovation to achieve
the best quality through sustainable practices, both at their
plant and throughout their dairy milk supply chain. The company
started producing powdered milk in 2010, and through their co-op
partnership with Select Milk Producers and a strategic marketing
partnership with Gavelon, a commodities marketer/broker, they have
grown international sales signi?cantly in the past two years and now
employ 80 team members.
03-!,-#-!7. :7,15 /134+
,-!#1-7!,3-7. )*+,-#++
About three out of four businesses interviewed reported increased sales in 2014, setting the stage for continued,
healthy investment in capital expansions and new hires. What’s more, those businesses marking a decrease in sales
dropped four points from 2013.
,-01#7+,-/ +7.#+
A'
>
%&'A
%&'A
%
>
(@
>
CC
>
C@
>
'C&&
CC
>
%&'@ %&'A
futurePREP’d
SM
is a collaborative program organized by Ottawa Area
Intermediate School District, and originally designed through partnerships
with Haworth, Herman Miller, Lakeshore Advantage and the Michigan West
Coast Chamber of Commerce. The initiative creates a direct connection
between kindergarten through 12th grade students, educators, and
over 50 participating businesses and community organizations through
immersion experiences, internships, video curriculum and special skills
training programs. futurePREP’d
SM
equips students with 21st Century
skills and engages them with real-world experiences to ensure
success with their career-based goals. It also prepares students to be
highly motivated, entry-level talent for the future workforce.
Ottawa County leads the state in “upskilling”
Leading the state for the second year in a row, Lakeshore
Advantage partnered with Ottawa County Michigan Works to
secure over $800,000 in Skilled Trades Training Funds. These
are competitive awards for employer-driven programs that
train employees in new skills and increase retention. Thirty-
seven local companies bene?ted from these funds, training
902 existing and 187 new employees.
)*+,-#++#+ 271!-#1 4,!"
+0"33.+ !3 :#9#.32 !7.#-!
2
0
0
5
2
0
0
6
2
0
0
7
2
0
0
8
2
0
0
9
2
0
1
0
2
0
1
1
2
0
1
2
2
0
1
3
2
0
1
4
5.2
%
5.5
5.7
6.8
12.4
10.3
8.1
6.6
6.2
4.7
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Several years of rapid growth
and success among Lakeshore
businesses have created thousands
of new jobs for the community. As a
result, we saw a 50% drop in Ottawa
County’s unemployment rate in 2014
to a level not-seen since 2005.
172,: /134!"
:#67-:+ !7.#-!
COMPANIES EXPERIENCING
CHALLENGE WITH
RECRUITING TALENT
COMPANIES
WITH UNFILLED
POSITIONS
OTTAWA COUNTY
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
US Bureau of Labor and Statistics
33% increasing
64% stabilized
3% decreasing
%&'@
C'
>
%&'A
CB
>
Each year, Ottawa County businesses employ nearly 400 interns from
around the state, nation and world. Lakeshore Advantage works with an
array of partners to help these talented individuals see that West Michigan
is the best place to live, work and play through the Smart Coast initiative.
With educational events and promotional efforts, Smart Coast exposes
interns to our region’s most attractive features including community,
career opportunities and quality of life.
1#!7,-,-/ ,-!#1-+
Participating companies became more concerned about growth challenges in 2014, especially the tightening
market for skilled labor.
!7.#-! /72 :1,9#+ ,-!#1-7. ,-9#+!6#-!
COMPANIES
INCREASING
TRAINING SPENDING
of these companies are
concerned about skilled
labor supply in 2014.
COMPANIES
CONCERNED THERE
ARE BARRIERS
TO GROWTH IN
OTTAWA COUNTY
%&'@ %&'@ %&'A %&'A
A
'
>
(
?
>
(B
>
@
'
>
@
C
>
In 2014, Lakeshore Advantage worked on 62 expansion projects, bringing over $10.5 million in value to
lakeshore businesses and over $250 million in new private sector investment.
.7D#+"31# 7:97-!7/#E )5 !"# -*6)#1+
#827-+,3-
213;#0!+
7++,+!#: )5
.7D#+"31#
7:97-!7/#
6,..,3-
.307.E +!7!# F