of the fastest growing in the nation, growing at rate of 18.5 percent—6.5 percent higher than the national average. At this point, the industry’s biggest limiting factor is availability of talent. The region’s talent pipeline is fueled by a network of 17 regional colleges and universities, but the supply of tech talent isn’t meeting the demand.
INFRASTRUCTURE Without a world- class infrastructure, economic growth comes
to a screeching halt, impacting all the sectors mentioned here. That’s why West Michigan must make new investments in water and wastewater capacity to support the food processing and agribusiness industry. The same goes for rural broadband solutions. A solid infrastructure is the foundation on which all industry is built, and it is a critical component in West Michigan’s economic vitality.
WORK-READY TALENT The Right Place’s strategic partners at Hello West Michigan are making tremendous progress in
attracting and retaining work-ready talent for the region. The organization’s ReThink West Michigan event, now in its 6th year, has become a region-wide affair, with simultaneous events in Grand Rapids, Hastings,Holland,Muskegon,andLudington. In 2017, the event attracted nearly 260 attendees and is expected to grow in 2018. Learn more at hellowestmichigan.com .
QUALITY OF LIFE West Michigan’s quality of life has an immense impact on
attracting businesses and talent to the region. Over the past decade, quality of life has climbed the list of relocation factors, and today, it’s in the top five. Many local organizations are doing incredible work to increaseWest Michigan’s quality of life. The Right Place was actively engaged with over 77 of those organizations in 2017 and will continue serving and supporting them in 2018.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Overall, the picture for 2018 seems bright. All indicators point to continued growth and investment. Talent pipelines at area colleges and universities remain strong.
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ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
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