In West Michigan’s Lakeshore region, success has always been a team effort, a point that P.J. Thompson, CEO of Trans-Matic, says is key to the community’s strength.
“Our area has been successful because we have a culture of supporting one another and creating an environment where businesses and people can thrive,” Thompson says. “That doesn’t happen by accident.”
Now, Thompson is helping lead the charge so that spirit continues for the next generation. As co-chair of Powering Our Future: The Next Lakeshore Generation, a five-year economic growth plan launched by Lakeshore Advantage, he is part of a team rallying regional leaders to raise $2.3 million to fund initiatives that strengthen the talent pipeline, support primary employers, and foster entrepreneurship.
Backed by more than $1.8 million in early commitments, the plan is a strategy to keep Allegan and Ottawa counties economically competitive at a time of rapid global change.
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Courtesy Lakeshore AdvantagePJ Thompson, CEO, Trans-Matic.
Lakeshore Advantage, the nonprofit economic development organization serving Ottawa and Allegan counties, unveiled the Powering Our Future plan on April 18 after more than a year of planning, research, and conversations with business leaders. The effort builds on a long track record of success.
Last year alone, Lakeshore Advantage facilitated $243.9 million in private-sector investment, helped businesses secure $44.7 million in support funding, and assisted in creating or retaining over 550 jobs.
Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage, says the plan focuses on creating conditions for long-term prosperity by addressing the most urgent challenges facing the region’s economy.
“We’re living in a globally competitive environment, and we can’t take our success for granted,” Owens says. “If we want to continue to grow, attract new talent, and strengthen our communities, we have to work together and invest in the future.”
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Courtesy Lakeshore AdvantageLakeshore Advantage unveils a five-year plan to strengthen West Michigan’s economy by growing talent, supporting businesses, and boosting startups.
Three ‘pillars’
The Powering Our Future plan is centered around three pillars:
- Powering our future workforce: Expanding programs that attract and retain 24- to 35-year-olds, a highly sought-after demographic critical to filling high-demand roles in fields such as engineering, skilled trades, and information technology.
- Powering primary employers and communities: Supporting the stability and growth of businesses that export goods and services beyond the region while securing industrial sites for future expansion.
- Powering the next generation of employers: Building a dynamic startup ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurs with access to funding, mentorship, and critical resources.
Owens emphasizes that each initiative was developed based on extensive input from regional stakeholders and informed by national trends affecting economic development.
“We’re not guessing, we’re building this plan with data, with community feedback, and with a shared vision of what it will take to stay competitive and vibrant in the years ahead,” Owens says.
The early phase of the fundraising campaign, conducted quietly over the past several months, has already generated strong momentum. More than 25 businesses and organizations have committed funds, including MillerKnoll, Corewell Health, LG Energy Solution, Fifth Third Bank, Priority Health, Bank of America, Haworth, and EV Construction.
Jeff Stutz, chief financial officer of MillerKnoll and campaign co-chair, says the widespread early support is a testament to the Lakeshore’s collaborative spirit.
“We have a shared love for this region and a common goal: to ensure it remains a great place to build a career, raise a family, and innovate,” Stutz says. “This plan is about investing in our people, our businesses, and our communities so that we can remain competitive not just nationally, but globally.”
One of the plan’s major focuses is addressing the region’s workforce shortage. Despite a thriving economy, West Michigan struggles with a critical need for skilled workers in technical and professional fields. Only 13% of the population falls within the 24- to 35-year-old age group, a figure Owens says must grow to meet employer needs.
“Our strategy is about more than just filling jobs — it’s about making this region the destination of choice for young, talented individuals who can build a life and a future here,” Owens says.
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Courtesy Lakeshore AdvantageJennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage, says a new five-year plan focuses on creating conditions for long-term prosperity by addressing the most urgent challenges facing the region’s economy.
Initiatives under this pillar include creating more internship and career-connected learning opportunities, supporting professional development programs, and ensuring new workers feel welcomed and connected to the community.
Providing room to grow
The second pillar focuses on sustaining the success of the region’s core employers and creating space for growth. With industrial vacancy rates hovering below 2%, Lakeshore Advantage plans to prioritize site development projects that will help meet the needs of expanding companies.
“Our existing businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we need to make sure they have room to grow,” Owens says.
For employers like Trans-Matic, the support from Lakeshore Advantage has been vital over the years. Thompson says his company has benefited directly from programs aimed at expanding business operations and accessing new markets.
“When you talk about the ingredients for success, a supportive business environment is right at the top of the list,” Thompson says. “That’s what Lakeshore Advantage helps provide.”
The third initiative aims to elevate the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Next Center, Lakeshore Advantage’s entrepreneurial hub in downtown Holland, already hosts 40 tenants ranging from early-stage startups to service providers. But Owens says more needs to be done to help emerging businesses access critical capital and growth opportunities.
The plan outlines efforts to boost seed funding, create stronger corporate innovation partnerships, and integrate entrepreneurial education programs into local K-12 and higher education systems.
“Startups are the future employers of our region,” Owens says. “We need to give them the tools to succeed now so they can be the primary employers of tomorrow.”
If fully realized, the Powering Our Future plan is expected to generate 5,000 new primary jobs, 4,374 indirect jobs, $375 million in new capital investment, and $10 million in startup investment by 2030. An independent analysis also projects $576 million in new annual earnings across the community.
Beth Blanton, vice president of engagement at Lakeshore Advantage, says reaching the campaign’s $2.3 million goal will be critical to activating the plan at full scale.
“We have an incredible vision, strong momentum, and a team ready to execute,” Blanton says. “But we need the full support of the community to take these big ideas from vision to reality.”
For Thompson, the motivation is personal.
“When my father started Trans-Matic in 1968, he was thinking beyond the moment, he was investing in the future of this community,” Thompson says. “Now, it’s our turn to do the same for the next generation.”
More information about the Powering Our Future campaign is available at
www.lakeshoreadvantage.com.