Make Your Future Here.

Current and future customers need you in West Michigan

Sweet Spot for Ice Cream and more

With rich agricultural resources and a workforce 7,300 strong, West Michigan’s “sweet spot” is food processing.

Why Do Business Here?

“As we expand availability of Hudsonville Ice Cream to additional states in the Midwest, we are deeply committed to investing in our hometown and the facilities where all our innovation, development and production takes place. West Michigan’s robust food and manufacturing industry, from ice cream and dairy to world-class brewers, highly skilled workforce and very reasonable cost of living make this an ideal location for food processing companies and those who supply these food and beverage producers.”

– Kevin Phillips and CJ Ellens, Hudsonville Ice Cream

Power & Infrastructure

West Michigan is a world-class leader in energy security, affordability, sustainability and efficiency. Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW) provides efficient and cost-saving opportunities to companies.

Vibrant Culture

West Michigan prides itself on building community and collaboration that move our region forward. These values apply in business and community to achieve the best quality of work, learning, recreation, environment and living possible.

Site Selection

West MI has several opportunities for manufacturers to relocate into the area, either with existing facilities or opportunities for build-to-suit. The Lakeshore Advantage team will work with you to understand your specific requirements for a facility, conduct a site/building search, and facilitate tours and connections for those opportunities. One currently available facility, located in the Holland area, may be an ideal fit for a new food packaging manufacturing operation.

Download Available Site Options with Utilities Information

Transportation & Logistics

West Michigan is uniquely located between Detroit, the automotive capital of the world, and Chicago, the third largest city in the US. With well-connected roads, rails and shipping lanes, we are less than three hours from detroit, four hours from Canada and a single day’s drive to anywhere in the Midwest and Central US. Our local airport, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, offers 120 daily nonstop scheduled flights to 24 major market destinations.

Michigan Food Processing Industry

Our state ranks No. 1 nationally in the production of low fat ice cream mixes and No. 6 in U.S. milk production.

Agriculture, food processors, and related businesses employ 923,000 Michiganders — 22% of the state’s workforce.

Michigan is home to 2,166 licensed food processors generating nearly $25 billion in economic activity, making Michigan 19th in the nation for food processing.

The food and agriculture industry contributes $101.2 billion annually to the state’s economy.

First

Best Small City

to Start a Business

WalletHub
2016, 2017 and 2018

Fastest

Growing Economies

in the U.S.

Forbes

FIrst

Place for Millennials

to get a job and start a life.

Business Insider

THIRD

Top Ten Best Places

for Families

Livability

Top TEN

State for Manufacturing

Global Trade Magazine, 2019

You’re in Good Company

See the world class employers and food manufacturers that have operations in Allegan and Ottawa counties.

Download West Michigan Largest Food Processors

Our Investment

Lakeshore Advantage is your concierge in securing a West Michigan business location, connecting you with whatever resources are needed to succeed here. Our schools and tech centers are becoming highly connected to our employers, aware of competencies and skills local companies are looking for in their next hires. We will help you navigate the state and local incentives to make your investment in West Michigan a great decision for you.

Incentive Programs

West Michigan knows how to ensure innovative companies thrive. Our state corporate tax rate is 6%. The State of Michigan, the City of Holland, Holland Board of Public Works and workforce training support resources including Grand Rapids Community College and West Michigan Works! work to understand each employer’s needs and ready the workforce to provide skills and training needed for the job.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)	A federal grant program that offsets the costs related to the purchase of machinery and equipment.
Industrial Property Tax Abatement (PA 198)	Local financing tool that decreases real property taxes by 50% for up to 12 years.
Jobs Ready Michigan Program	State grant assistance for talent recruitment and job training in high-impact occupations.
Michigan Business Development Program	State grant assistance for the creation of qualified new jobs or investment.
New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC)	A federal tax credit that subsidizes building or equipment purchase/construction.
Personal Property Tax Reform	Exemption of personal property taxes on property used for industrial processing or related activities.

About West Michigan

Natural beauty. Wonderfully livable communities. Smart workers with a can-do attitude. We design, engineer and make the next big advancements in automation, automotive, advanced energy storage, food innovation and office furniture here.

Our Region at a Glance

399,284 Population

37 Median Age

22.2 Minute Average Commute

26.2% Manufacturing Employment

144,223 Households

158,404 Housing Units

$168,350 Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing

91.7% High School Graduation or Higher

28.1% Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

How We Stack Up

	Grand Rapids MSA	Ottawa County, MI	Allegan County, Mi
Population Estimate (2019)	1,081,457	293,494	115,250
High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+ years, 2018 ACS Survey)	90.9%	92.6%	90.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher (percent of persons age 25 years+, 2018 ACS Survey)	32.4%	33.5%	22.7%
Manufacturing Employment (as percentage 2018 ACS Survey)	26.2%	24.9%	27.5%
Reported Annual Violent Crimes / National Average	3.27	2.32	1.92

Sights of West Michigan