Lakeshore Advantage

We were thrilled to have @State Representative Greg VanWoerkom tour the nearly completed Next Center, West Michigan's newest innovation, entrepreneurial, and economic development hub. Rep. VanWoerkom is one of many legislators who made our dream a reality! The Next Center is a testament to the importance of partnerships between public and private sectors. This is a huge win-win for our community. Cheers to what's next! Photo: Greg VanWoerkom, Michigan House of Representatives, District 88; Jennifer Owens, President; Mandy Cooper, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

On Friday, DeWys Metal Solutions Inc. unveiled their brand-new, 10,000-square-foot, two-story addition at their headquarters in Wright Township, Ottawa County. This major investment not only expands DeWys’ footprint but also strengthens our region’s economic landscape! We’re proud to have supported DeWys throughout their expansion journey. Our President @Jennifer Owens joined in the ribbon-cutting celebration, marking an exciting new chapter for the company and the community. Here’s to continued success and more great jobs in our region! #EconomicGrowth #CommunityInvestment #LakeshoreAdvantage #OttawaCounty #EconDev #michigan #MiInfrastructure #communitydevelopment #community #socialimpact #community #socialgood #communityproject #buildinculture #awareness #engaged #support #letsgrow

Startups play a critical role in the development and growth of local economies. Entrepreneurship is one of 26 programs at @Ottawa Area ISD’s Careerline Tech Center, which serves over 1,600 students. We’re grateful to OAISD’s outstanding programs and commitment to Ottawa area students. These students are the strength of our region! Learn more about ongoing programs HERE: https://zurl.co/asxK

Keeping our emerging and diverse workforce here is key to keeping our businesses strong. Latin Americans United for Progress is doing great work with its workforce development and community programs. Check it out: https://zurl.co/AGGy

Our friends at Ottawa Area ISD are giving their students relevant, hands-on experience by partnering with area businesses and organizations from a variety of industries. We recently partnered with them to inform and inspire our community’s budding entrepreneurs. We can’t wait to see what these #FutureFounders do! Hopefully, we’ll see them again as members of our SURGE powered by Lakeshore Advantage program when they’re looking for the accountability, network, and know-how to help bring their business ideas to life. Or we hope to see them working for a startup in the lakeshore region—a great way to develop your business chops! #EconDev #ExperienceSooner #FixItFriday #LearnMoreEarnMore #MentorMichigan #Michigan #MiCareerAwareness #MICareerPathways #MiCareerTechEd #MiGovJobs #MiJobs #PathfinderMI #Sixtyby30 #americanjobcenters #michiganworks #letsgo

Thank you to Crain's Grand Rapids Business for including Lakeshore Advantage's President, Jennifer Owens in such an innovative and growth-focused group of community leaders. We are in awe of Jennifer as she leads our efforts with determination and grit, creating a healthier West Michigan economy. Our communities are thriving because of her dedication and her commitment to our vast network of collaborators. Cheers to Jennifer! https://zurl.co/Y6Nq

Thanks to everyone who joined us earlier this month for Pulse of Progress: Insights from the Lakeshore Region's Top Employers. Our update on one of the trends we saw this year in the Lakeshore Region: 41% of those interviewed reported that they plan to expand in the next three years. We must make the best case for these businesses to continue to invest in West Michigan. If you missed it, don't fret. You can watch the recording here: https://zurl.co/TQ6J

As Lakeshore Advantage's Executive Assistant & Experience Manager, Julie is ALWAYS EVOLVING in both her role and her development as a leader. She is endlessly eager to find the solution, despite the hurdle and is foundational to our team and this community. Her ability to balance the support needs of the team, the vibe of the office, and the experience of our investors and Board of Directors is inspiring. Cheers to Julie!

Downtown Zeeland has some exciting new developments on the way! Congratulations to our partners at the City of Zeeland and Geerlings Development Company on breaking ground last week on this exciting new project in Downtown Zeeland: https://zurl.co/pV6k  #EconDev #michigan #MiInfrastructure #communitydevelopment #community #socialimpact #community #socialgood #communityproject #buildinculture #awareness #engaged #support #letsgrow

It's official: signs are up at the Next Center! SURGE powered by Lakeshore Advantage will be pivotal to the startup ecosystem, fueling innovation and growth as part of Lakeshore Advantage's efforts to support our businesses and grow our economy across Allegan and Ottawa Counties. We can't wait to embrace our new space—we're feeling energized, connected, and ready to make a lasting impact together!