The Muskegon Lakeshore has become a destination for running and bicycling in recent years. Thanks to the natural scenic beauty and the additions to the Lakeshore Trails, there are new events being added each year. These new events are bringing in visitors from all over the Midwest creating an economic impact for the tourism industry.
New this year is the Port City Criterium scheduled for May 13th. It is a daylong bike race in the downtown Heritage District.
The Mercy Health Seaway Run & Expo added the Lake Michigan Half Marathon, attracting runners who make it a weekend vacation experience. The local Girls on the Run Muskegon is one of the largest events of its type in the country! This race is geared for young girls as part of a local after school program.
“Muskegon County has the infrastructure to support large scale outdoor recreational events,” said Bob Lukens, Director of Visit Muskegon, the county’s convention and visitors bureau. “The various venues for cycling, running, volleyball, soccer and other sports competitions are building our inventory and putting Muskegon County on Michigan’s sports destination map.”
Learn more about the Port City Criterium, the Mercy Health Seaway Run, and the Girls on the Run Muskegon. For more information on other community events, click here!
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Muskegon is featured throughout the Michigan Blue Magazine Spring 2017 edition! This high-quality publication has a large distribution in Michigan and beyond. Featured articles include “The Queen of the Great Lakes” which highlights stories of the S.S. Milwaukee Clipper, Michigan’s oldest passenger steamship. That ship is now a museum on Muskegon Lake and open for tours throughout the summer.
“Cruising On the Great Lakes” is another article which talks about the Pearl Mist, the cruise ship that stops in Muskegon each summer. For more information on Cruise Ships, click here.
And finally, there is an article about the “West Michigan Pike”, the road trip from Chicago to Mackinaw. The article only references Muskegon, but the new book about the Pike, “Vintage Views Along the West Michigan Pike” explains in detail the important role Muskegon played in the development of the shoreline highway.
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2017 Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year Announced
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Rob Riegler, owner of Lakeside Surfaces, was recognized in front of 200 business and community leaders as the 2017 Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year at the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce’s Annual E-Awards Luncheon on April 19, 2017.
The annual awards luncheon also acknowledged ten other Entrepreneurs of Excellence and featured a keynote address from 2016 Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year, Kathleen Riegler.
2017 Entrepreneurs of Excellence:
- John & Betsy McIntyre, Anderson Global
- Ed Babbitt, Babbitt’s Sports Center
- John Essex, CORE Realty Partners
- Denise Kanaar, D&D Logistics
- Edward Dombrowski, Industrial Metal Cleaning Corporation
- David Bayne, Muskegon Awning & Fabrication
- David Ramos, Ramos & Sons Body Shop
- Craig Hindes, Scott Meats
- Randy Mulder, SERVPRO of Muskegon
- Kristi Kettler, Sparrow Boutique
Click here to learn more about the 2017 E-Awards Entrepreneur Luncheon.
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Employment Numbers
Labor Force
January 2016 = 77,900
January 2017 = 77,200
February 2016 = 77,200
February 2017 = 77,300
March 2016 = 78,900
March 2017 = 77,200
Employment
January 2016 = 74,100
January 2017 = 69,200
February 2016 = 73,100
February 2017 = 72,800
March 2016 = 74,800
March 2017 = 72,700
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Employment by Sector
Goods Producing
January 2016 = 15,800
January 2017 = 15,100
February 2016 = 15,600
February 2017 = 15,300
March 2016 = 16,100
March 2017 = 15,500
Service Providing
January 2016 = 47,600
January 2017 = 46,900
February 2016 = 47,900
February 2017 = 47,100
March 2016 = 47,900
March 2017 = 47,400
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Home Sales (Muskegon County)
Homes Sold
January 2016 = 142
January 2017 = 168
February 2016 = 159
February 2017 = 129
March 2016 = 208
March 2017 = 205
Average Sale Price
January 2016 = $112,616
January 2017 = $121,389
February 2016 = $116,979
February 2017 = $111,576
March 2016 = $113,136
March 2017 = $141,519
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Michigan Works! Statistics
Known Jobs Filled
January 2016 = 62
January 2017 = 150
February 2016 = 39
February 2017 = 120
March 2016 = 115
March 2017 = 175
Job Seekers (Unique Visitors)
January 2016 = 2,062
January 2017 = 1,682
February 2016 = 1,539
February 2017 = 1,495
March 2016 = 1,601
March 2017 = 1,454
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Business Counseling
Appointments
SCORE & MI-SBDC
January 2016 = 57
January 2017 = 32
February 2016 = 25
February 2017 = 17
March 2016 = 26
March 2017 = 24
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Airport Traffic
Takeoffs & Landings
January 2016 = 1,234
January 2017 = 1,026
February 2016 = 1,356
February 2017 = 1,749
March 2016 = 1,889
March 2017 = 1,671
Airport Cargo in lbs.
January 2016 = 1,241
January 2017 = 756
February 2016 = 961
February 2017 = 840
March 2016 = 250
March 2017 = 6,000
Commercial Passengers
January 2016 = 2,467
January 2017 = 2,133
February 2016 = 2,451
February 2017 = 2,593
March 2016 = 2,984
March 2017 = 3,191
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Top Industries Advertised Online Demand
Industry
Manufacturing
March 2016 = 150
Health Care & Social Assistance
March 2016 = 200
Retail Trade
March 2016 = 141
March 2017 = 102
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Top Muskegon Job Occupations Advertised Online (March 2017)
Occupation
Truck Driver
91 New Job Postings
Registered Nurse
51 New Job Postings
Nursing Assistant
33 New Job Postings
Retail Salesperson
31 New Job Postings
Custer Service Representative
20 New Job Postings
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Statistics provided by:
The Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth; Local Municipalities, Michigan Association of Realtors, Muskegon County Airport, Muskegon Area First, Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Small Business Development Center, and West Michigan Works!
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A publication of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Employers Association of West Michigan and Muskegon Area First
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