Muskegon's image as a great place to live, work, and play has improved according to Avenue ISR, an independent research firm.  Avenue ISR conducted a mid-campaign perception survey to determine the effectiveness of the Watch Muskegon campaign in improving the image of Muskegon County.

The survey revealed that 95% of community member respondents were familiar with the Watch Muskegon campaign and 38% of West Michigan respondents recall seeing or hearing the campaign messaging. In addition, residents of Muskegon County and its surrounding counties are more likely to see Muskegon as a place to live, work, and play compared to before the campaign launched.

“We are thrilled to see that the campaign is moving the needle and positively affecting the overall perception of Muskegon County, both locally and regionally,” says Carla Flanders, Director of Watch Muskegon campaign.

The Watch Muskegon mid-campaign results were presented to the community during the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce’s Business for Breakfast event. The Watch Muskegon Campaign is in its last year of the initial campaign. However, due to the commitment of its stakeholders, the campaign is expected to continue for another 3 years. For more information on the campaign and the mid-campaign results, visit watchmuskegon.com.

There are nearly 2,000 job openings right now in Muskegon County according to a presentation made by West Michigan Works! during the 2017 Economic Summit! Businesses all over the county are searching for qualified and dedicated workers to fill current job positions.

With an unemployment rate of 4.9% and over 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day, the need for skilled and reliable workers is in high-demand.

“In order to meet the needs of our community, we are committed to partnering with educators, employers and community based organizations to build the skills and abilities of our next workforce through trainings and apprenticeships”, says Kathy Rohlman, Service Center Manager at West Michigan Works!.

There are a variety of programs available throughout Muskegon County that offer trainings, certificates, and degrees in order to enhance or develop worker skills.

For more information about available jobs or the programs offered for developing skills, please contact West Michigan Works! here.

A meeting was held in Lakeside this month regarding the status and future plans of the old Sappi property - now Windward Pointe.

The process of demolition and land preparation of the 120-acre former industrial site with nearly a mile of Muskegon Lake shoreline will come to a close this summer with the final demolition of the remaining two paper mill smokestacks.

Property owners Pure Muskegon – a group of Muskegon investors – will then progress to master planning of the site for a mixed-use waterfront development and work with city of Muskegon on zoning.

Pure Muskegon officials announced this month that the smokestacks will be brought down sometime in late July just as the paper mill’s former, 10-story power plant came down in 2013. The stacks will be hydro-scrubbed and vacuumed of paint containing low levels of asbestos before demolition. Preparation work will begin in early June.

Pure Muskegon is looking to partner with various developers and investors to create several hundreds of millions of dollars in potential development of residential housing, a hotel, offices, retail outlets, restaurants, marinas and recreational opportunities. Development will come over the course of years. For more information, click here.

Did you know that Muskegon County has 15 incredible museums? Together, key museums and public art promote Muskegon as a destination for arts and culture. Many tourists determine where to vacation based on the variety of opportunities for enrichment.

Last year, Muskegon had over 1.5 million tourists. The majority visit Muskegon for arts and culture as well as other attractions like Michigan's Adventure, the beaches, parks, events, and festivals. This group is banning together to attract tourists from all over the country for Muskegon's rich arts and culture. Resources such as the Muskegon's Amazing Museums Brochure, the Heritage District Map, and the Artful Walk Map help familiarize tourists of their options while visiting.