Economic Development
The Economic Development Division, which was formally created in 2010, is responsible for increasing economic development in Ottawa County. The primary goals of this division include:
- Increasing investment in local businesses
- Increasing the number of new businesses relocating to Ottawa County
- Promoting collaboration among the County’s economic development agencies in order to maximize existing resources, obtain additional resources, and minimize duplication of resources
- Fostering the development and expansion of businesses that produce services and products associated with the agribusiness sector of Ottawa County
- Utilizing the County’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to attract and retain businesses
Economic Development Projects
Agricultural Technology Business Incubator
Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Application Guide
Economic Development Report
Land Bank Authority
Metropolitan Statistical Areas
Ottawa County Economic Development Office
Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds
Recovery Zone Facility Bonds
Renaissance Zones
Revolving Loan Fund
Standardized Mapping
Agricultural Technology Business Incubator
The implementation of an Agricultural Technology Business Incubator in Ottawa County is currently being executed by the Planning and Performance Improvement Department. A business incubator is designed to nurture entrepreneurs and their businesses during the critical formative years. This mentoring process will increase job opportunities and set the stage for future growth, job creation, tax-base expansion, and revitalization of the area.
The Agricultural Incubator concept has garnered substantial support in Ottawa County in large part due to the incubator’s focus on establishing businesses that are connected to agriculture. Agriculture is a core industry in Ottawa County and one of the most sustainable of all business sectors. Further, the agri-business sector has the potential to become a high-growth market especially in areas associated with new high-tech processes. The Incubator will utilize the knowledge and expertise of local farmers, food processors, and other agricultural leaders in the region to create start-up businesses that are focused on value-added agricultural products and markets.
The three areas of agricultural operations that would be targeted by the County’s Agricultural Business Incubator would include, but not be limited to, the following:
| Sustainability: | Renewable energy, waste management, nutrient management systems, green fertilizer, green pest management, etc. |
| Technology & Productivity: | Implement equipment, food processing equipment, agricultural management software, veterinary equipment, etc. |
| Innovation: | Precision agriculture, advanced agricultural operations, new uses for agricultural products, etc. |
The Planning and Performance Improvement Department is exploring the options of having a feasibility study conducted that will verify whether or not the incubator concept can sustain itself in the region. If the concept proves feasible, a virtual Incubator will be launched to provide incubation services without a physical structure. A move to a physical Agricultural Business Incubator structure would be considered if the virtual Incubator is a success.
Ottawa County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Application Guide
Ottawa County formally established its Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (OCBRA) to assist, at the request of local units of government, in facilitating the rehabilitation, revitalization, and reuse of environmentally contaminated, blighted, or functionally obsolete properties identified as “brownfields." The OCBRA can issue revenue and tax increment financing bonds and notes to finance eligible remediation work, and can apply future tax increment revenues to pay off obligations incurred for environmental assessment, demolition, lead or asbestos abatement, and other activities performed as part of a qualified brownfield plan. The Ottawa County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Guide explains the application process for participating in the County program, for those who have already explored potential brownfield program participation with their local units of government.
In December 2008, the Planning and Performance Improvement Department completed an assessment of current economic development activities in the County. One of the primary recommendations of the 2008 report was to integrate the Ottawa County Economic Development Office (OCEDO) into the Planning and Performance Improvement Department. This partnership could meld the strengths of both organizations to provide greater coordination and valuable support services to existing economic development agencies. The partnership would also result in time and cost-savings for the OCEDO of more than $114,000 in additional direct and indirect resources that could be made available for economic development purposes. A decision by the OCEDO Board as to whether the integration will occur is pending.
Ottawa County established a Land Bank Authority (LBA) in order to strengthen and revitalize the local economy through assembling and/or disposing of public property, including tax reverted property. The LBA, which is administered by the Ottawa County Treasurer’s Office, could potentially be used by the Planning and Performance Improvement Department, in conjunction with local units of government, to promote economic growth.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas
The Planning and Performance Improvement Department continues to pursue a dialog with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to modify its standards for defining metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). The OMB’s present standards divide the region into three smaller MSAs - each of which fall below the minimum population thresholds that many large relocating businesses consider favorable to a region. Ottawa County became its own single county MSA (Holland-Grand Haven) after the 2000 Census because it was 317 individuals short from reaching the OMB's 25% commuter-threshold in order to be included with the larger Grand Rapids MSA. The OMB's standards have created a serious misconception regarding the economic size of this region.
In May 2009, the County Planning Commission approved a Resolution which supports having Ottawa County join the Kent County (i.e. Grand Rapids) region in order to achieve an MSA that has a population of more than 1,000,000. This Resolution was forwarded to the OMB.
Ottawa County Economic Development Office
The Planning and Performance Improvement Department provides administrative oversight for the Ottawa County Economic Development Office (OCEDO) contract. The OCEDO’s major work activities for the second half of 2009 are provided here.
Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds
Ottawa was the first county in Michigan to allocate a Recovery Zone Bond allotment. A Recovery Zone Economic Development Bond (RZEDB) award of $5.6 million was allocated to the City of Grand Haven in August 2009 for their Washington Avenue Improvement Project.
The Planning and Performance Improvement Department recommended a second RZEDB allocation of $6.4 million to the City of Coopersville for upgrades to their wastewater treatment system, as well as for public infrastructure improvements to accommodate growth in the community. These bonds were allocated in April 2010.
A Park Township drain project ($6.2 million) and a Request Foods infrastructure project ($2.5 million) are currently being considered for the County’s remaining RZEDB allotment.
In February 2010, Ottawa County allocated their entire $31.1 million allotment in Federal Recovery Zone Facility Bonds (RZFB) to the Michigan Strategic Fund for the Continental Dairy Products project. The project includes construction, renovation, and equipment purchases to convert the vacant Delphi facility that is located in the City of Coopersville into a milk processing plant. The plant will be capable of processing four million pounds of milk daily into longer shelf life products such as butter, cream, condensed milk and milk powder. The project will create 70 permanent, full-time jobs over the next two years at a total cost of $90.5 million.
In 2010, the Planning and Performance Improvement Department worked in conjunction with Request Foods and Holland Charter Township to successfully process an Agricultural Processing Renaissance Zone designation to accommodate a proposed plant expansion. This designation, which the Board of Commissioners approved, will result in a $40.6 million investment in the new facility and the creation of 250 new jobs.
The Department is currently working on another project involving a Renaissance Zone designation that would potentially result in 800 to 1,000 new jobs.
Another economic development tool being researched by the Planning and Performance Improvement Department is a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program. The RLF is designed to assist businesses by providing direct loans which, along with low-cost interest, are paid back directly to the revolving fund. Loan funds can typically be used for any legitimate business purpose, including the purchase of land and buildings, machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, or leasehold improvements. Working capital loans would also be available for the purchase of inventory, the financing of receivables, or other business operating needs.
The Ottawa County Planning and Performance Improvement Department continues to work with local units of government throughout the County to encourage and facilitate the adoption of Standard Land Use District Titles and Colors for master plan and zoning maps.
Standardization will allow for easy viewing of commercial, retail, and industrial properties across the County on a single map, reducing the time and effort staff and consultants spend analyzing local zoning ordinances and master plans. It will also give citizens a better understanding of the location and type of land use districts in their community and in surrounding communities. Standardization does not change density, use, or any other local zoning ordinance and comprehensive land use plan requirements that have been adopted by local units of government.
