RPI Insider | Q1 2019

RPI Insider | Q1 2019

Quarter 1 - 2019

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE : THE RIGHT PLACE & LAKE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE ENTER PA R T N E R S H I P THE RIGHT PLACE, INC. ANNOUNCES KEY STAFF TRANSITIONS & PROMOTIONS FORD MOBILITY CHALLENGE SPOTLIGHTS GRAND RAPIDS

YOUR DIRECT PATH TO BUSINESS GROWTH.

Running a growing business is dicult enough. And as you grow, knowing what resources are available, where to find them, and when to reach out can be another challenge entirely.

Fortunately, we’re here to make those challenges easier. The Right Place is your single source for business success in West Michigan, providing you with the tools and support you need to continue doing what you do best—running your business.

Find guidance, resources, and a team ready to assist at rightplace.org .

[email protected] \ 616-771-0325

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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12

22

FEATURE ARTICLE: 2019 Economic Outlook for West Michigan

CEO Update

Talent Rachel Bartels selected to lead Hello West Michigan

3

16 23

Economic Development Progress Update

Investor Spotlight BDO USA

2018 Projects & 3-Year Progress

The Right Place & Lake County Enter Partnership

4

24

18

Projects Amphenol Borisch Technologies Arcanum Alloys DealerOn, Inc. Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing Magna Mirrors West Michigan Compounding, LLC

Calendar of Events

Investor Breakfast Recap

20 25

Etc. New Team Members

Ford Mobility Challenge Spotlights Grand Rapids

10

The Right Place, Inc. announces key staff transitions and promotions

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CEO Update Welcome to 2019. It is hard to believe 2018 has come to an end, and The Right Place is two-thirds of the way finished with our 2017-2019 Strategic Plan. When we launched this plan two years ago, we set aggressive goals: $500 million in capital investment, $150 million in new and retained payroll, and 4,200 new and retained jobs. At this point, we have exceeded our goals for both payroll and capital investment. And we are fast-approaching our goal for new and retained jobs.

These results come after a banner year for The Right Place. Our team completed a record-setting 29 business development projects in 2018. Over the course of the organization’s three-decade history, few years have yielded this level of success for the West Michigan region. While we are proud of these achievements, we know this success is not achieved in a vacuum. Without the support of our investors and community partners, along with a dedicated team of professionals, we could not reach these goals. At the end of 2018, one of those dedicated professionals retired from our team. Rick Chapla, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, announced his retirement from The Right Place after 22 years of service. Those who know Rick, know his impact on our region cannot be understated. He devoted his career to improving the community and region, and he has left an indelible mark on West Michigan. With Rick Chapla’s departure, several other team members will be stepping into new roles. More information on these changes can be found on page 10. I am looking forward to the future as these key team members begin their new leadership roles. Wishing you a successful 2019,

Birgit M. Klohs President & CEO The Right Place, Inc.

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

2018 Economic Development Projects ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS UPDATE

Retained Jobs

New Jobs

Company

Payroll

Investment

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS COMPLETED: 29 ANNUAL GOAL: 17 MANUFACTURING SUPPORT CONTRACTS COMPLETED: 140 ANNUAL GOAL: 120 COMPANIES SERVED: 581 ANNUAL GOAL: 400 CUMULATIVE COMPANY ASSISTS: 1,993 ANNUAL GOAL: 1,333 WORK-READY TALENT ASSISTS: 475 ANNUAL GOAL: 525 EVENT ATTENDEES: 2,564 ANNUAL GOAL: 1,600

Axis Company LLC

50 33

$4,248,400

$4,000,000 $57,952,000

Foremost Farms Greenville MPH Trucking and Logistics

$1,621,620

22

$515,840 $323,980 $2,014,480 $1,952,340 $2,554,396 $2,473,900 $4,071,600 $6,201,000 $3,516,240 $4,504,448 $962,000 $277,056 $225,157 $437,756 $1,652,924 $996,840 $5,005,156 $5,110,924 $2,096,640 $6,000,000 $2,221,900 $2,142,400 $2,366,000 $312,624 $133,120

$2,701,360

VNA Corporation

4

$25,000

Jedco Inc

39 46 62 50

$9,290,000 $5,100,000 $21,300,000 $8,750,000 $150,000,000

Parker Hannifin Corp Agropur Natrel USA

HexArmor

Amazon

1000 $30,000,000

Grimm (SMFS, Inc.)

27

$601,312

Ventra Ionia Main, LLC

109

$4,850,000 $2,709,000 $21,294,678

Tech Defenders

115 50

ADAC Automotive

Auvesy GmbH & Co KG

3

$154,980

Larry's Tire, Inc

30

10

$1,000,000

Greenville Cabinet

$850,000

Extremis North America

2

Farm Country Cheese House

Granco Clark

$1,200,000

Kawasaki Precision Machinery

4

$500,000

MedBio

43 33 25 82 48 44 50 50 107

$3,526,000 $6,000,000

West Michigan Compounding

Arcanum Alloys

$693,000

Amphenol Borisch Technologies Magna Mirrors Newaygo Division Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing

$6,705,225 $45,066,251 $63,500,000

DealerOn Inc.

$1,662,583

Dr Johns

$2,309,000 $18,000,000

Viking Corp

Totals

30

2,108 $93,223,929 $439,740,389

2018 TOTAL: 2,138 3-YEAR TOTAL: 3,584

ANNUAL GOAL: 1,400 3-YEAR GOAL: 4,200

NEW/RETAINED JOBS NEW/RETAINED PAYROLL

2018 TOTAL: $93,223,929 3-YEAR TOTAL: $164,107,823 2018 TOTAL: $439,740,389 3-YEAR TOTAL: $560,385,746

ANNUAL GOAL: $50,000,000 3-YEAR GOAL: $150,000,000 ANNUAL GOAL: $167,000,000 3-YEAR GOAL: $500,000,000

NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENT

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS UPDATE

AMPHENOL BORISCH TECHNOLOGIES

Amphenol Borisch Technologies announces expansion of West Michigan headquarters

The Right Place worked in collaboration with the company, Kentwood and the MEDC to ensure ABT continues to expand its headquarters operations in the city. The MEDC is supporting the project with the approval of a $410,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. “The Right Place is very pleased to have partnered with Kentwood and the MEDC to ensure ABT’s growth in the region,” said Eric Icard, senior business development manager, and project lead. “This investment is another win for West Michigan’s robust aerospace and defense industries.” “The City of Kentwood is delighted for ABT’s expansion and further investment in the community,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “We look forward to ABT’s continued success in the market.” For more information, visit borisch.com .

Local manufacturer, Amphenol Borisch Technologies (ABT), recently announced it will invest $3.7 million to expand its operations in Kentwood. As a result, the company, located on East Paris Avenue in Kentwood, will add 82 jobs to its headquarters campus. ABT builds complex electromechanical assemblies, cable harnesses, circuit cards and discrete mechanicals for the aerospace and defense industries. The company employs more than 400 people at five North American locations. The Kentwood headquarters campus, which includes two buildings, employs nearly 200 people. The expansion will allow ABT to renovate portions of this existing facility, and purchase new machinery and equipment. “Amphenol is proud to be reinvesting in West Michigan with this expansion,” said Bob Brunetz, General Manager, Amphenol Borisch Technologies. “With the support of The Right Place and the MEDC, we were able to make this project happen right here in Kentwood.”

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ARCANUM ALLOYS

The Right Place attracts alloy development company to West Michigan

The MEDC is supporting the relocation with the approval of a $162,500 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. “Arcanum Alloys’ decision to move their headquarters from Silicon Valley to West Michigan ref lects the strength of our region’s high-tech talent pool and manufacturing supply chain,” said Eric Icard, Senior Business Development Manager, The Right Place, Inc. “Our region’s talented workforce combined with its strong advanced manufacturing base have made it a destination for innovative companies like ArcanumAlloys.” The City of Kentwood is supportive of Arcanum Alloys’ plans to locate in the city. “We are delighted Arcanum Alloys has chosen the City of Kentwood for their new headquarters,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley, City of Kentwood. “We look forward to working with them as they grow and create high-tech jobs in our community.” For more information on Arcanum Alloys, visit arcanumalloys.com .

manufacturing customers. This location, which will be located in the City of Kentwood on 44th St. SE., will function as both a new headquarters and R&D center. “Arcanum Alloys is looking forward to starting the next chapter of its growth story in the City of Kentwood,” said Dan Bullard, CEO of Arcanum Alloys. “We’re grateful for the support provided by The Right Place and their partners at the MEDC and City of Kentwood as we moved through this decision process.” The Right Place worked in collaboration with the company and MEDC to ensure Arcanum Alloys chose West Michigan. The Right Place also connected the company to workforce development resources at West Michigan Works! to assist with workforce recruitment and training.

A Silicon Valley alloy development company has chosen to relocate its headquarters to the West Michigan region. The project, made possible by collaboration between The Right Place and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), will result in the creation of 25 new high-tech jobs and a capital investment of $693,000. Arcanum Alloys’ patented technology generates revolutionary function and value by utilizing the most common metallurgical elements to create alloys whose properties at the surface and bulk are spatially segregated. The company produces 20-ton coils for some of the world’s mostwell-knownmanufacturing companies. Arcanum Alloys chose West Michigan over other competing locations to be closer to its production partner, suppliers, and

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2018 ECONOMIC SUCCESS STORIES

DEALERON, INC.

The Right Place assists local tech company with expansion

said Kara Wood, Managing Director of Economic Development Services, City of Grand Rapids. “We look forward to their continued success as they create jobs and tap into our community’s growing technology workforce.” For more information, visit dealeron.com .

growth ref lects this shift. DealerOn’s decision to grow in Grand Rapids is indictive of the region’s tech and automotive strength. The City of Grand Rapids is supportive of DealerOn’s plans to expand in the city, “We are pleased DealerOn has chosen the City of Grand Rapids for its next expansion,”

DealerOn, Inc., a digital marketing provider for auto dealers, has announced an upcoming expansion in the City of Grand Rapids. This will result in the creation of at least 44 new jobs and a capital investment of $1.6 million over the next three years. DealerOn, headquartered in Maryland, serves over 1900 dealerships and has three office locations. The company has more than 200 employees nationwide, and currently employs 25 people at its Grand Rapids office. Recent increase in demand for DealerOn’s services, including a new contract with Ford Motor Company, led them to choose Grand Rapids for the company’s next phase of development. "When we started exploring options for expanding our offices in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we were immediately impressed with the community's commitment and partnership with DealerOn,” said Amir Amirrezvani, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President, DealerOn. “Copper Rock Construction, The Right Place, and the MEDC were instrumental in bringing our ideas to fruition, and we are thrilled to be working with such excellent partners!" The Right Place worked in collaboration with the company and MEDC to ensure DealerOn chose to expand inWest Michigan. The Right Place connected DealerOn with workforce development resources at West MichiganWorks! to assist with recruitment and training, and the MEDC is supporting the expansion with the approval of a $300,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Automotive sales are increasingly moving into the ecommerce realm, and DealerOn’s

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2018 ECONOMIC SUCCESS STORIES

GRAND RIVER ASEPTIC MANUFACTURING

Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing expands to third local facility

will also be supported locally bya P.A. 198 tax abatement from the City of Grand Rapids. “Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing serves as a high-quality option for clients with a growing need for these services,” said Eric Icard, Senior Business Development Manager and project lead, “We continue to see the important role pharmaceutical manufacturing plays in the West Michigan economy, and this is a perfect example of the kind of growth opportunities this industry brings to our region.” City of Grand Rapids Managing Director of Economic Development Services, Kara Wood, is also thrilled with the company’s choice to continue expanding in the City, “Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing’s decision to develop a third facility in the City of Grand Rapids is a nod to the capabilities of our workforce, and the strong business environment that allows pharmaceutical manufacturing to thrive in our community,” said Wood. For more information on GRAM, visit grandriverasepticmfg.com .

“Since 2010, Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing has been closely linked to the Grand Rapids community,” said Thomas Ross, President and CEO, Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, “We have been able to put together a team of highly-skilled, dedicated individuals, which has been critical tomaintaining our reputation of providing excellent quality and service to our clients. We are thankful The Right Place and their partners at the MEDC and City of Grand Rapids made it possible for us to continue growing in West Michigan.” The Right Place and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) worked in collaboration with GRAM to ensure continued growth in the West Michigan region. The Right Place also connected the company to workforce development resources at West Michigan Works! to assist with worker training. The MEDC is supporting the expansion effort with the approval of a $1,000,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The expansion

Rapidly growing pharmaceutical manufacturer, Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, recently announced the expansion of its Grand Rapids operations. The company will be opening a third location in The City of Grand Rapids, resulting in the creation of 107 new jobs and a capital investment of $63.5 million. GRAM was founded in 2010 and purchased the assets of its predecessor company, a joint venture between the Van Andel Institute and Grand Valley State University. As a privately held company, GRAM provides high-quality, outsourced sterile parenteral manufacturing for the life sciences industry. Its services include pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, analytical testing, and regulatory filing support. After beginning with 16 employees in 2011, GRAM has grown to employ more than 100 full-time individuals in West Michigan. Commitment to quality and a growing aseptic manufacturing market have both contributed to the company’s rapid evolvement. In 2017 and 2018, GRAM was named as one of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S., and the seventh fastest growing company in Michigan by Inc. 5000.

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2018 ECONOMIC SUCCESS STORIES

MAGNA MIRRORS

The Right Place finalizes manufacturing expansion in Newaygo

expansion of this facility will further strengthen the company’s Michigan presence and provide additional good jobs to area residents for years to come,” said MEDC CEO Jeff Mason. “MagnaMirrors is a keyemployer inNewaygo County, and we are delighted they have decided to expand in the City of Newaygo,” said Julie Burrell, Business Development Coordinator – Newaygo County, The Right Place, Inc. “A global company like Magna Mirrors has many options for expansions, and their decision to invest in the Newaygo facility speaks volumes of our area’s business competitiveness.” The City of Newaygo is supportive of the expansion and has approved a P.A. 198 tax abatement in support of the project. “The City of Newaygo is proud to be home to Magna Mirrors,” said Mayor Ed Fedell, City of Newaygo. “We are pleased they have chosen Newaygo for their next phase of growth, and we look forward to our continued partnership with them.”

Mirrors will construct a 175,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly facility at its Newaygo location. “For Magna Mirrors, today represents an exciting step forward in the growth and development of our business in North America,” said Kevin Burke, Vice President of Operations for Magna Mirrors. “We have a team that is second to none, a highly skilled workforce that is dedicated to world-class manufacturing and has a clear mission: to be the premier mirror supplier to automakers here in Michigan and around the world.” The MEDC is supporting the project with a $448,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The Right Place worked in collaboration with the company and MEDC to ensure Magna Mirrors continued to grow locally. “Magna Mirrors is a global manufacturer of automotive mirrors and one of the top employers in Newaygo County. The

One of the world’s largest automotive suppliers, Magna Mirrors, recently announced the expansion of its Newaygo facility. With the support of The Right Place, Inc. and in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City of Newaygo, the expansion will create 48 new jobs and an investment of $45 million over the next three years. Magna is a mobility technology company, and its facility in the City of Newaygo manufactures interior and exterior rearview mirrors with value-added features such as electronic displays and auto-dimming glass. It is also one of the county’s largest employers with over 1,300 employees. Increased demand drove the need for this expansion. As part of the expansion, Magna

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2018 ECONOMIC SUCCESS STORIES

WEST MICHIGAN COMPOUNDING, LLC

The Right Place and Montcalm Economic Alliance assist manufacturer with expansion in Greenville

“We are excitedWMC has chosen to expand in the City of Greenville,” said George Bosanic, City Manager, City of Greenville. “WMC has been an excellent business partner within our community, and we look forward to their continued success.”

Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The Right Place and the Montcalm Economic Alliance worked in collaboration with the MEDC to ensureWMC continued to grow locally. “WMC has found its niche in the City of Greenville,” said Kathy Jo VanderLaan, Business Development Coordinator – Montcalm County, The Right Place, Inc. “In 2015 they extended their recycling efforts by purchasing the 400,000 square foot former Electrolux warehouse, and turning it into a growing plastic reclamation operation. We were delighted to partner with the MEDC to retain this innovative company as they continue to grow in Montcalm County.” Since 2005, WMC has been operating out of Greenville, and now has two operational facilities in the city. Its capabilities range from compounding to plastic reclamation.

Greenville-based West Michigan Compounding, LLC (WMC), announced the expansion of its plastics manufacturing operations in Montcalm County. The company, which uses a reclamation process and state-of-the-art extrusion equipment to compound and recycle over 100 million pounds of plastic every year, plans to invest $6 million and create at least 33 full-time jobs. WMC was founded in 2005 and primarily serves the automotive industry. The company has grown significantly over the past three years and now employs over 70 people in the area. To meet the recent increase in demand, WMC is adding more than 41,000 square feet to its production floor, along with 3,600 square feet to the front office to increase capacity. “Our company continues to see impressive growth, and we are excited for what this expansion will mean for WMC’s future,” said Ashley Everin, Vice President, West Michigan Compounding. “Throughout this process, the Montcalm Economic Alliance and MEDC have been valuable partners as we move into this new phase of growth.” The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is supporting this growth with the approval of a $150,000

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2018 ECONOMIC SUCCESS STORIES

The Right Place, Inc. announces key staff transitions and promotions

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TRANSITIONS & PROMOTIONS

community at The Right Place. In this role, Romkema will provide overall leadership and direction for the organization’s communications strategy, including public relations, marketing, and advertising. The Right Place is also pleased to announce that Cindy Brown, previously the Executive Director of HelloWest Michigan and Vice President, Talent Initiatives at The Right Place, will step into the role of Vice President, Talent Initiatives full-time. Brown has over 20 years of leadership experience in recruiting, employee development, training, and facilitation. In this new role, Brown will provide strategic direction and overall leadership to the organization’s talent initiatives and collaborations. To learn more about the team at The Right Place, please visit rightplace.org/about-us/our-team .

“While Rick Chapla’s absence will be felt deeply at The Right Place, we are looking forward to the future as several key members of the team take on new leadership roles,” said Klohs. Tim Mroz, longtime Vice President of Marketing and Communications at The Right Place, will step into the role of Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at The Right Place. Mroz has been with The Right Place for over a decade, leading the organization’s marketing and communications strategy. Mroz’s deep understanding of economic development and the West Michigan region made him the clear choice to step into the position. To fill the role of Vice President of Marketing and Communications, The Right Place will be promoting Andria Romkema. Romkema has several years of marketing and communications experience in the economic development industry, including the past four years serving theWest Michigan

As we begin the New Year, The Right Place is pleased to announce several key staff transitions and promotions. Rick Chapla, the Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, retired from The Right Place on December 31st, 2018. Chapla joined the organization 22 years ago, and has been involved in community and economic development planning for over 35 years. In his role at The Right Place, he was responsible for assisting local units of government and private development interests with economic development policies and programs throughout West Michigan. “Over the course of his three-decade career, Rick Chapla has left an indelible impact on the West Michigan community,” said Birgit Klohs, President and CEO of The Right Place, Inc. “His spirit of collaboration and devotion to our community are exemplary, and we are thankful for his years of service to The Right Place.”

Rick Chapla

Tim Mroz

Andria Romkema

Cindy Brown

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TRANSITIONS & PROMOTIONS

12

2019 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

regards to 2018, and what to look forward to in the coming year. Early on, Robey discussed stock market reactivity to various events throughout the year, “The ride is only getting bumpier, but economic forecasts are based on fundamentals, not market reactions.” Supporting his statement, Robey reported that GDP is projected to remain solid, while the rate of employment growth will begin slowing as we move into 2019. Currently, Robey says there is no immediate recession on the horizon, though overall growth will begin to taper off. “Expansions don’t get tired, rather, they end due to policy mistakes, which can lead us into a recession as a result of poor decisions made on a macro-level,” said Robey, “These decisions can involve tax cuts and increases, federal deficits and debt, interest rate hikes, tariffs, and elections.” Robey also expressed concern regarding the federal deficit, “The deficit is poised to eclipse the national defense budget, and we’ll soon spend more on interest than we do on defense.”

businesses that are already here. Our team completes nearly 400 retention calls a year, and they’re looking to ensure those businesses, your businesses, are receiving the assistance needed to continue growing. Manufacturing industry growth remained strong in 2018, accounting for 16 of the 29 completed projects. However, signs of economic diversification were strongly evident when analyzing the jobs and capital investments recorded. Food processing, technology, medical devices, and other industries accounted for more than 1,500 newand retained jobs throughout the year. This year also marks the completion of the second year in The Right Place’s 2017-2019 strategic plan. Already, The Right Place has exceeded two of its three goals, and has made strong progress on the third. The third goal of newand retained jobs is set at 4,000, and the organization has reached 3,584witha full year left in the strategic plan. THE NATIONAL ECONOMY Director of Regional Economic Planning Services for the W.E. Upjohn Institute, Jim Robey, tackled the broader picture in

ach December, The Right Place hosts its annual Economic Outlook for West Michigan to provide insights on regional, state, and national industry

trends in the economy. This widely attended event attracts more than 400 business leaders and community members, who look to industry experts for an in-depth review of the past year and forecasts on what’s to come. The 2019 Economic Outlook for West Michigan highlighted some fluctuations the economy saw in 2018, and forecasted slower growth than we’ve seen in recent years. However, the economy is predicted to remain relatively strong overall, and at this time, no recessions appear to be on the horizon. THE RIGHT PLACE REPORT President and CEO of The Right Place, Birgit Klohs, shared updates on the West Michigan region’s current economic development conditions and activities. In 2018, The Right Place completed 29 economic development projects, exceeding its annual goal of 17 projects. Of those 29 completed projects, 80 percent of them were expansion and retention focused. The majority of our work at The Right Place is focused on providing support to

2018 BY THE NUMBERS

BY INDUSTRY TYPE BY INDUSTRY TYPE

BY JOBS BY JOBS

BY INVESTMENT BY INvestment

2

4

588

$132.3M

$151M

2

1,010

15

171

$84.3M

6

150

$67M

$5.1M

189

Manufacturing Food Processing

Technology Medical Devices

Other

13

2019 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

picture should emerge in terms of economic development for the State of Michigan. Infrastructure continues to remain a concern for the state. Without strong infrastructure, our companies cannot grow and compete as effectively. In particular, as Industry 4.0 takes hold, companies will become more reliant on broadband infrastructure. This critical piece of infrastructure is lacking in the nation, particularly in rural communities. THE BIG PICTURE 2018 was another strong year for West Michigan’s economy. We saw progress with regards to economic diversification, job growth, and increases in capital investment. Our team at The Right Place will continue supporting our communities and businesses to maintain a thriving region into 2019 and beyond. Like always, we will face unique challenges in the year to come, and it is up to business and community leaders to address them in ways that are best for our region. We look forward to continuing our work in West Michigan, and wish our area businesses continued success in the New Year.

this time, it’s a “wait-and-see” situation, and rising interest rates have the potential to hurt the economy if the trend continues. Klohs also presented on several challenges and opportunities facing West Michigan in 2019. These include infrastructure, leadership changes in Lansing, trade and tariffs, automotive plant closures, and talent. The nation has been facing a talent shortage for several years, and this shows no signs of abating. While the labor shortage is expected to persist, we’ll also see Industry 4.0 and increases in automation coming into play, especially for manufacturers. Companies are expected to do more with fewer people, and increase capital investments as a result. Hello West Michigan, a strategic partner of The Right Place, continues to work with our regional employers to address their talent needs. Leadership changes in Lansing will affect the regional economy, but it’s too early to know exactly what those changes will look like. As the new administration and legislature settle into their roles, a clearer

WEST MICHIGAN’S ECONOMY “Michigan, once again, continues to outperform expectations,” said Robey. On average, the West Michigan region touted an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent in August 2018, considerably below the national rate of unemployment, which sat at 3.5 percent. It also reported a labor force participation rate 5.6 percent above the national rate. According to >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28

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