WMRPC – Economic Development

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The WMRPC is the liaison between the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and communities in Region 8. This long-term relationship began in 1972 when the WMRPC was designated an EDA Economic Development District.

This program involves several ongoing components including the annual updating of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS Committee, with the assistance of WMRPC staff, develops an annual document that describes the economic conditions of the seven counties, recent successes, and ongoing challenges related to economic development. The 2009 CEDS Committee is comprised of the following representatives from across Region 8:

Allegan County

Larry “Casey” Jones – County Commissioner

Nora Balgoyen-Williams – Private Sector

City of Big Rapids

Cindy Plautz – Neighborhood Services Coordinator

City of Grand Rapids

Kara Wood – Director of Economic Development

Mecosta County

Bill Mrdeza – Mecosta County Development Corporation

David Hamelund – Private Sector

Montcalm County

John Johansen – County Commissioner

Ronald Blanding – Private Sector

Osceola County

Dan Massy – Osceola Economic Alliance

Ottawa County

Donald Disselkoen – County Commissioner

Joan Epperson – Private Sector

City of Wyoming

Tim Cochran – City Planner

Lillian VanderVeen – Private Sector

THE RIGHT PLACE, INC.

Rick Chapla

Members-at-Large

Howard Hansen

John Miner

Chris Thelen

The CEDS Committee also solicits economic development projects from each of the communities (counties, cities, villages, and townships) in Region 8 as well as other community-based organizations. The CEDS lists all of these projects, which communities feel would benefit the economic conditions of the area. After CEDS Committee and WMRPC adoption, this list of projects is forwarded to EDA, USDA, MEDC, state and federal legislators, and other organizations for funding consideration. EDA requires that projects appear in a CEDS for funding consideration.

Identifying a community project in the CEDS does not automatically move the project forward. After listing the project, communities must meet with the Region and EDA to develop and promote projects. The WMRPC facilitates meetings between communities and EDA to determine if a community’s project meets EDA’s criteria.

EDA funds projects related to economic development and job creation – examples are infrastructure improvements that benefit existing or potential businesses, the development of industrial parks, the development of business incubators, or other projects intended to increase the income of an area’s residents. Additionally, EDA’s Investment Policy Guidelines provide communities with direction related to EDA’s goals. The Guidelines follow:

1. Be market-based and results-driven

An investment will capitalize on a region's competitive strengths and will positively move a regional economic indicator measured on EDA's Balanced Scorecard, such as: an increased number of higher-skill, higher-wage jobs; increased tax revenue; or increased private-sector investment.

2. Have strong organizational leadership

An investment will have strong leadership, relevant project management experience, and a significant commitment of human-resources talent to ensure a project's successful execution.

3. Advance productivity, innovation, and entrepreneurship

An investment will embrace the principles of entrepreneurship, enhance regional clusters, and leverage and link technology innovators and local universities to the private sector in order to create the conditions for greater productivity, innovation, and job creation.

4. Look beyond the immediate economic horizon, anticipate economic changes, and diversify the local and regional economy

An investment will be part of an overarching, long-term comprehensive economic development strategy that enhances a region's success in achieving a rising standard of living by supporting existing industry clusters, developing emerging new clusters, or attracting new regional economic drivers.

5. Demonstrate a high degree of commitment by exhibiting:

● High levels of local-government or nonprofit matching funds and private-sector leverage

● Clear and unified leadership and support by local elected officials

● Strong cooperation between the business sector, relevant regional partners, and local, state, and federal governments

In addition to the CEDS process and linking communities to EDA funding sources, the WMRPC has other economic development/community development responsibilities. In the past, the WMRPC has promoted tourism, inventoried manufacturing sites, identified gaps between transit and jobs, and provided information and support for a variety of projects.

The WMRPC completed a project that involved an inventory all of the economic development opportunities across the seven-county area. The key points of the study (funded by EDA and the WMRPC) include:

● Provide the means to create a more focused approach to economic development

● Develop an inventory of industrial parks and land planned/zoned for industrial uses

● Develop an inventory of economic development programs

● Establish recommendations related to the need for additional facilities and programs

● Define the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of the seven-county area served by the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission (WMRPC) related to economic development

CEDS Committee General Guidelines

CEDS Committee Meeting Schedule

CEDS Committee Meeting Minutes

2010 Interim Report to the 2010-12 CEDS Report (PDF document)

2009 Supplemental Report to the 2007-09 CEDS Report (PDF document)

2008 Supplemental Report to the 2007-09 CEDS Report (PDF document)

2007-09 CEDS Report (PDF document)

2006 CEDS Report (PDF document)

2005 CEDS Report (PDF document)

2004 CEDS Report (PDF document)

Economic Development Resource Inventory and Analysis – June 2006 (PDF document)

LINKS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS