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Lakeshore Advantage and The Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg Announce Strategic Partnership

OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. – Lakeshore Advantage and The Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg (the Chamber) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership to enhance economic development efforts in Northwest Ottawa County. The two organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their collaboration in supporting business growth and retention in our local communities and across the region.

 

This partnership brings together Lakeshore Advantage, the economic development organization contracted by Ottawa County, and The Chamber, which provides economic development services to five municipalities in Northwest Ottawa County, including the City of Grand Haven, Grand Haven Charter Township, the Village of Spring Lake, Spring Lake Township, and the City of Ferrysburg.

 

“By joining forces, we’re creating a more robust and cohesive approach to economic development in our region,” said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “This collaboration reflects the interconnected nature of our regional economy and workforce, and will provide businesses with streamlined access to resources and investment opportunities throughout Northwest Ottawa County.”

 

A Framework for Economic Success

Key aspects of the partnership include:

  • Regular collaboration between teams to share project updates and discuss strategic regional initiatives;
  • Coordinated business retention efforts; and
  • Proactive sharing of economic development resources, events, and opportunities.

 

Mark Allen, president of The Chamber, added, “This partnership embodies the spirit of regional cooperation that is essential for sustainable economic growth. By leveraging our combined expertise and resources, we’re better positioned to retain businesses, attract new investment, and create employment opportunities for our communities.”

 

Both organizations are committed to working together to fulfill their obligations to the county and the individual communities in Northwest Ottawa County by utilizing each of their strengths while actively supporting one another.

 

About Lakeshore Advantage

Lakeshore Advantage is the economic GPS for West Michigan’s Ottawa and Allegan Counties. The nonprofit economic development organization grows primary employers at all stages of development, plans to ensure long-term economic health, and solves economic challenges and identifies opportunities. Lakeshore Advantage was established in 2003 by forward-focused business and community leaders to assist primary employers—from startups to established global corporations—as they navigate growth in the lakeshore region.

 

In 2023, Lakeshore Advantage supported 26 business growth projects consisting of $3.2 billion in private investment and $634.3 million in support funds leveraged in the two counties. Business growth projects resulted in 1,091 new and retained jobs. In addition, Lakeshore Advantage provided economic support to 285 primary employers and 73 startup companies in the two counties. Find out more at www.lakeshoreadvantage.com.

 

About The Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg:

The Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg has been serving businesses for 125 years since 1899. Through their vision of empowering businesses and building communities, The Chamber provides hyper local support, connections, access to resources and solutions for economic and business growth within Northwest Ottawa County. Find out more at www.grandhavenchamber.org.

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More Than A Car Wash, More Than A Restaurant

The Heart of Our Community’s Economic Health

 

Jennifer Owens, President, Lakeshore Advantage

 

As the leading organization responsible for guiding our community’s economic growth, I often hear from friends and neighbors about what they believe our community is missing. I appreciate the spirit of a previous Holland Sentinel article “We asked Hollanders what they’d like to see instead of car washes” that sought to spark a discussion on what other establishments might be desired in our area. However, it is equally important to highlight the significant economic impact behind the car washes you see and the cultural influence that leads to our many Mexican restaurants.

 

It might surprise some to learn that our community is home to one of the world’s leading providers of car wash systems—Tommy’s Express Car Wash. Tommy’s is more than a chain of carwashes. The company uses Holland as a research and development hub, allowing them to test their latest, best-in-class systems right here. Additionally, we host their national support center and manufacturing facilities, making this a key area for their operations.

 

The presence of Tommy’s has spurred growth among several local suppliers. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to present an expansion proposal to the Zeeland Township Board alongside the CEO of Quest Car Care, one of Tommy’s largest suppliers. Quest, a locally-owned company, is investing in significant expansion, driven by the booming car wash industry, nationally and internationally. Expansions like this bring good jobs for community members and investment in local construction, real estate, legal, and finance industries, and beyond. This is just one example of how local businesses benefit from having a major industry leader like Tommy’s headquartered in our region. Our concentration of state-of-the-art car washes is not just a convenience but a true economic win-win for our community.

 

As for the abundance of Mexican restaurants, this is directly tied to our growing Latino population, which is a vital and vibrant part of our community. The types of international cuisines available in any area often reflect the demographics of the local population. As our community continues to grow, we might see an increase in the variety of cuisines in the region, such as Indian or Korean, to meet the evolving needs of our residents. The growth of our Latino population is something to celebrate, and I am particularly grateful for the fantastic food that our local Mexican restaurants provide.

 

What makes our community special is its diversity—both in the businesses that thrive here and the people who call it home. Every car wash, every restaurant, and every new face brings something valuable to our shared experience. I hope this perspective not only sheds light on the importance of our local car washes and restaurants but also inspires a deeper appreciation for the richness that each contributes to our community. Together, we can continue to build a welcoming, vibrant, and economically strong place that we are all proud to call home.

 

Jennifer Owens is the president of Lakeshore Advantage, the leading economic development organization for West Michigan’s Allegan and Ottawa counties.

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True Grit: Knowing When to Push and When to Pause

Jennifer Owens  – August 15, 2024

 

In my last blog, I shared the importance of grit in developing great leaders. I used my mother as an example of modeling grit, which includes continuously learning and not letting obstacles or setbacks hold you back from achieving your dreams.

 

My mom, who has long been an editor of my writing, didn’t get a chance to read the blog before it was released. She has always given me honest feedback, even when it wasn’t easy to hear. She said something missing in the blog was I didn’t share any of my character-building lessons that helped develop my grit. In the blog, I mentioned that it is equally important for successful leaders to share their hard lessons on the path to success. Most did not have smooth sailing as they worked toward their goals.

 

I, too, have had setbacks that made me question if I really wanted to lead or if I could overcome the barriers in my way. I could write a book on them. One that comes to mind is for women leaders who aspire to lead while still knocking it out of the park as a mother.

 

I took my first shot at my dream job being a CEO of an economic development organization when I was six weeks postpartum. My boss at the time was leaving for another role one day after I had my third son. By the time I would come back to my job after my 12-week maternity leave, the new CEO search would be well underway.

 

My former boss encouraged me to apply for his role, but this would mean I would have to make my interest known well before I was ready to come back to work. After just four weeks on maternity leave, I had a meeting with our board chairman, who was heading the CEO search.

 

newborn baby
Newborn MJ Owens

 

At that point, I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in four weeks. Let’s just say I was a bit of an emotional wreck. The meeting was a disaster; I ended up crying during the meeting when he told me I should focus on my baby and that my current job would be there when I got back. He said I could apply for the CEO job, but it would be a national search.

 

I took that as a challenge and went all in on securing the CEO role. I came back from maternity leave after six weeks. I almost killed myself trying to juggle a new baby, my other two kids, and being in a work environment where everyone was on edge due to the CEO search. No surprise, I didn’t get the job.

 

As I look back, one of my regrets as a full-time working mom is taking those precious weeks away from my newborn son. I knew I wasn’t going to get the role after that first meeting, but my pride and determination wouldn’t allow me to take ‘no’ for an answer.

 

This setback pushed me to leave that organization, which eventually led to my dream job today as CEO of Lakeshore Advantage. For all you moms of young children: work can wait. Take the time, enjoy the smell of your newborn baby, and stay in your mom bubble as long as possible. No job or work experience will ever be able to replace those moments. You can have it all—just not all at the same time. Remember, true grit is not just about persevering through challenges; it’s about knowing when to pause, reflect, and prioritize what truly matters in life.

 

Jennifer Owens is the president of Lakeshore Advantage, the leading economic development organization for West Michigan’s Ottawa and Allegan counties.

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Press Releases

Lakeshore Advantage Seeks Input from Young Professionals

New survey aims to identify key opportunities and barriers to local talent retention

 

 

ZEELAND, Mich. – Lakeshore Advantage, the nonprofit economic development organization serving Allegan and Ottawa Counties, is launching a new survey to gain insight into the key factors influencing young adults’ decisions to stay in the region or relocate.

 

“We know that ensuring our employers have access to the talent they need is vital to our long-term economic health,” said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “Here on the lakeshore, we’ve consistently led the way from an overall population growth perspective. However, securing our future workforce in high-demand positions starts with retaining our young talent. This survey will help us identify what we can do to that end.”

 

According to the latest census data, 45% of the Lakeshore region’s population falls within the age range of 18-34. This vital segment of our community represents the future of our local economy and workforce. However, data from the 2022 American Communities Survey reveals that over a one-year period, approximately 12% of 18-34-year-olds in Allegan and Ottawa Counties moved to a different county or a different state. The potential continued migration of a significant portion of our current and emerging workforce underscores the need for more proactive efforts to retain and attract talent.

 

The Lakeshore Emerging Worker Survey is open to adults ages 18-34 who live, or have lived, in Allegan or Ottawa Counties and who are working, or preparing to work in, high-demand industries identified in the region, including manufacturing, construction/energy, agribusiness, health sciences, and professional and administration.

 

Survey respondents will be asked a series of questions to help determine what they like most about the lakeshore region, what barriers can make living in the region difficult, and what could make the area more attractive to them in the future.

 

Lakeshore Advantage is working with various community stakeholders to disseminate the survey to current and former Allegan and Ottawa County residents including Allegan Area Chamber of Commerce; Allendale Area Chamber of Commerce; The Chamber Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg; Hudsonville Area Chamber of Commerce; Otsego-Plainwell Chamber of Commerce; Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce; Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce; Allegan Area Educational Services Agency, Grand Rapids Community College Lakeshore Campus; Grand Valley State University Career Services; Hope College Boerigter Center; Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP); Ottawa Area Intermediate School District; and Hello West Michigan!.

 

The Lakeshore Emerging Worker Survey is currently available online in English and Spanish. Eligible respondents who complete the survey by September 6th will be entered into a drawing for one of five $100 VISA gift cards.

 

The Frost Research Center at Hope College was contracted by Lakeshore Advantage to develop and administer the survey.

 

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