2017 COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY For Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Osceola, and Ottawa Counties Prepared by the WEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION _________________________________ submitted as Region 8's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) in accordance with requirements of the U.S. Economic Development Administration ________________ Adopted by the CEDS Committee August 31, 2017 and the WMRPC September 15, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 U.S. Economic Development Administration Investment Priorities 2 Vision Statement and Mission Statement 5 Summary of Goals 6 Organization and Management 7 West Michigan Regional Planning Commission (WMRPC) 8 WMRPC Executive Committee 10 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee 11 WMRPC Staff 12 CEDS Preparation and Approval Process 13 Public and Private Sector Involvement 13 Scheduled Meetings and General Agenda Items 14 WMRPC Overall Goals and Objectives 16 Economic Development Partners 18 Federal Programs 18 State of Michigan Programs/Statewide Organizations 19 Regional Programs 21 Allegan County 23 Barry County 24 Ionia County 25 Kent County 26 Mecosta County 27 Montcalm County 28 Osceola County 29 Ottawa County 31 Other Partners 33 Community Profile 34 Region 8 34 Economic Clusters in Region 8 48 Allegan County 50 Ionia County 56 Kent County 61 Mecosta County 67 Montcalm County 73 Osceola County 79 Ottawa County 85 Barry County 91 Cities of Grand Rapids and Wyoming 96 Goals and Objectives 103 Organizational Goals and Objectives 103 Community and Economic Development Goals and Objectives 104 Community Projects 106 Overview 106 2017 EDA Targeted Community Projects 107 – Continued – Community Projects 133 CEDS Project Evaluation Criteria 138 Community Distress 140 Projects Receiving EDA Funding Assistance During 2012 CEDS Cycle 141 Projects Receiving EDA Funding Assistance During 2007 CEDS Cycle 142 Plan of Action 144 Actions Related to Organization Goal #1 144 Actions Related to Organization Goal #2 144 Actions Related to Organization Goal #3 145 Performance Measures 146 Conclusion 149 List of Tables Table 1 – West Michigan Regional Planning Commission 8 Table 2 – 2012 CEDS Committee 11 Table 3 – Population Trends and Projections for Region 8 and Michigan 34 Table 4 – 2010 Population Traits for Region 8 and Michigan 35 Table 5 – 2010 Housing Traits for Region 8 and Michigan 35 Table 6 – Income and Business Traits for Region 8 and Michigan 36 Table 7 – 2010 Employment Traits for Region 8 and Michigan 37 Table 8 – Employment Trends in Region 8, Michigan, and the United States 38 Table 9 – Population Trends and Projections for Allegan Co., Region 8, and Michigan 51 Table 10 – 2010 Population Traits for Allegan Co., Region 8, and Michigan 52 Table 11 – 2010 Housing Traits for Allegan Co., Region 8, and Michigan 52 Table 12 – Income and Business Traits for Allegan Co., Region 8, and Michigan 53 Table 13 – 2010 Employment Traits in Allegan Co., Region 8, and Michigan 54 Table 14 – Employment Trends in Allegan Co., Region 8, Michigan, and the U.S. 55 Table 15 – Population Trends and Projections for Ionia Co., Region 8, and Michigan 56 Table 16 – 2010 Population Traits for Ionia Co., Region 8, and Michigan 57 Table 17 – 2010 Housing Traits for Ionia Co., Region 8, and Michigan 58 Table 18 – Income and Business Traits for Ionia Co., Region 8, and Michigan 59 Table 19 – 2010 Employment Traits in Ionia Co., Region 8, and Michigan 59 Table 20 – Employment Trends in Ionia Co., Region 8, Michigan, and the U.S. 60 Table 21 – Population Trends and Projections for Kent Co., Region 8, and Michigan 62 Table 22 – 2010 Population Traits for Kent Co., Region 8, and Michigan 63 Table 23 – 2010 Housing Traits for Kent Co., Region 8, and Michigan 64 Table 24 – Income and Business Traits for Kent Co., Region 8, and Michigan 64 Table 25 – 2010 Employment Traits in Kent Co., Region 8, and Michigan 65 Table 26 – Employment Trends in Kent Co., Region 8, Michigan, and the U.S. 66 Table 27 – Population Trends and Projections for Mecosta Co., Region 8, and Michigan 67 Table 28 – 2010 Population Traits for Mecosta Co., Region 8, and Michigan 68 Table 29 – 2010 Housing Traits for Mecosta Co., Region 8, and Michigan 69 Table 30 – Income and Business Traits for Mecosta Co., Region 8, and Michigan 69 Table 31 – 2010 Employment Traits in Mecosta Co., Region 8, and Michigan 70 – Continued – Table 32 – Employment Trends in Mecosta Co., Region 8, Michigan, and the U.S. 72 Table 33 – Population Trends and Projections for Montcalm Co.,Region 8,and Michigan 73 Table 34 – 2010 Population Traits for Montcalm Co., Region 8, and Michigan 74 Table 35 – 2010 Housing Traits for Montcalm Co., Region 8, and Michigan 75 Table 36 – Income and Business Traits for Montcalm Co., Region 8, and Michigan 76 Table 37 – 2010 Employment Traits in Montcalm Co., Region 8, and Michigan 77 Table 38 – Employment Trends in Montcalm Co., Region 8, Michigan, and the U.S. 78 Table 39 – Population Trends and Projections for Osceola Co., Region 8,and Michigan 79 Table 40 – 2010 Population Traits for Osceola Co., Region 8, and Michigan 80 Table 41 – 2010 Housing Traits for Osceola Co., Region 8, and Michigan 81 Table 42 – Income and Business Traits for Osceola Co., Region 8, and Michigan 81 Table 43 – 2010 Employment Traits in Osceola Co., Region 8, and Michigan 83 Table 44 – Employment Trends in Osceola Co., Region 8, Michigan, and the U.S. 84 Table 45 – Population Trends and Projections for Ottawa Co., Region 8,and Michigan 85 Table 46 – 2010 Population Traits for Ottawa Co., Region 8, and Michigan 86 Table 47 – 2010 Housing Traits for Ottawa Co., Region 8, and Michigan 87 Table 48 – Income and Business Traits for Ottawa Co., Region 8, and Michigan 88 Table 49 – 2010 Employment Traits in Ottawa Co., Region 8, and Michigan 89 Table 50 – Employment Trends in Ottawa Co., Region 8, Michigan, and the U.S. 90 Table 51 – Population Trends and Projections for Barry Co., Region 8,and Michigan 91 Table 52 – 2010 Population Traits for Barry Co., Region 8, and Michigan 92 Table 53 – 2010 Housing Traits for Barry Co., Region 8, and Michigan 92 Table 54 – Income and Business Traits for Barry Co., Region 8, and Michigan 93 Table 55 – 2010 Employment Traits in Barry Co., Region 8, and Michigan 94 Table 56 – Employment Trends in Barry Co., Region 8, Michigan, and the U.S. 95 Table 57 – Population Trends and Projections for Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Etc. 97 Table 58 – 2010 Population Traits for Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Etc. 98 Table 59 – 2010 Housing Traits for Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Etc. 99 Table 60 – Income and Business Traits for Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Etc. 100 Table 61 – 2010 Employment Traits in Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Etc. 101 Table 62 – Employment Trends in Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Etc. 102 Table 63 – EDA Targeted Community Projects Summary – Ranked in Order 132 Table 64 – Eligibility of Counties and Communities 140 List of Maps Map 1 – Region 8 Service Area 4 Appendices A Resolutions and Public Notice for Review B CEDS Committee Guidelines U.S. Economic Development Administration – Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy INTRODUCTION The West Michigan Regional Planning Commission (WMRPC) is pleased to submit this Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). The members within the seven county district represented in this report have indicated their intentions of utilizing the CEDS as part of their economic development strategy. The seven county region, known as Region 8, includes Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Osceola, and Ottawa counties (see Map 1). This report has been prepared in accordance with requirements of the U.S. Economic Development Administration Planning Grant 06-83-05534. Barry County has aligned with Region 8 (the County was in Region 3/Southcentral Michigan Planning). The change was approved by the WMRPC, SMP, and Barry County. Additionally, the move was additionally motivated by the State of Michigan’s “Regional Prosperity Initiative,” which redrew several boundaries. While the current EDA grant cannot be used to incorporate Barry County into the Region 8 CEDS, the CEDS includes Barry County, which paid dues to allow for the planning effort. With the submission of this Report, the WMRPC completes its forty-fifth year as an Economic Development District. West Michigan Regional Planning Commission 1 U.S. Economic Development Administration – Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy U.S. Economic Development Administration Investment Priorities Within the parameters of a competitive grant process, all projects are evaluated to determine if they advance global competitiveness, create jobs, leverage public and private resources, can demonstrate readiness and ability to use funds quickly and effectively and link to specific and measureable outcomes. EDA has established the following investment priorities: Collaborative Regional Innovation Projects that increase the development and growth of innovation clusters which, based on objective economic data, are existing regional competitive strengths. Such initiatives must engage relevant stakeholders; facilitate collaboration among urban, suburban and rural (including Tribal) areas; provide stability for economic development through long-term intergovernmental and public/private collaboration; and support the growth of existing and emerging industries. Public/Private Partnerships Projects that use both public and private sector assets and complementary investments