muskegon county community profile

PubPol 686: Community Profile

Economic development in Muskegon County, Michigan

Developing the economy,preserving the land

Where is Muskegon?

Map source: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, UT Austin

People in Muskegon

Muskegon County MichiganPopulation: 175,231 10,095,643

Minorities: 33,460 (19.1%) 2,069,098 (20.5%)

Born in Michigan: 141,172 (80.6%) 7,638,467 (75.7%)

Immigrants: 2,965 (1.7%) 598,651 (5.9%)

Median age: 36.8 years 37.3 years

Bachelor’s degree or higher:

16.5% 24.5%

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2006)

Muskegon’s “urban core”

Map source: Muskegon County, Michigan

48.5%

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

Bachelor's degree or higher Families in poverty

16.5%11.8%

24.5%

9.6%

27.0%

9.8%

Muskegon County Michigan United States

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2006)

Worrying economic signs

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2006)

$-

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

Per capita income

$18,720 $24,097 $25,267

Worrying economic signs

-5,000

10,000 15,000 20,000

19,346 16,446

8,950

2,687

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2006)

Employment

Worrying economic signs

Graph source: W.E. Upjohn Institute

September 2007: 7.3%

• Job creation tax credits•Property tax abatements• Job training grants•Renaissance zones•Business parks•Land bank

Economic development tools

Data source: Muskegon Area First

438 jobs

Economic development

1,461 jobs

1,025 jobs

Data source: Muskegon Area First Annual Report (2006)

Job creation (2006)

Economic development

Data source: Muskegon Area First Annual Report (2006)

13.3%

Projected population increase (2004 to 2020)

Economic development

It’s not what development is happening.It’s where the development happens.

Muskegon's assets: Its Natural Areas

Muskegon's assets: Its Natural Areas

Muskegon's assets: Its Natural Areas

Map source: WMSRDC Muskegon Area Plan

Land use in Muskegon

Industrial, 1%Residential, 13%

Utilities, 4%

Agricultural/open space, 26%

Forest, 29%

Water, 4%

Wetlands, 2%

Public lands, 19%

Commercial, 2%

Data source: WMSRDC Muskegon Area Plan

Land use in Muskegon

Tensions in land use

38,721

-

53,320 61,227

71,994

157,589 158,983 170,200 180,852 192,890

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

-

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Land use (acres)Po

pula

tion

Land use Population

Data source: Western Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC)

What Muskegonites think

The major challenges before Muskegon County are how to plan the best use of undeveloped and agricultural land, how to protect our natural environment, how to maximize urban redevelopment and infill, and how to coordinate these efforts in Muskegon County.

Quote source: WMSRDC Muskegon Area Plan, 2004

“

”

Map source: WMSRDC Muskegon Area Plan

How Muskegon will develop

Scenario I Scenario II Scenario IIIAcres of forest

consumed: 8,612 84,658 13,808

Acres of open space consumed:

8,563 25,056 4,195

Development outside fire response:

15% 15% 2%

Development outside water service area:

65% 51% 6%

Development outside water service area:

65% 56% 5%

How Muskegon will develop

Map source: WMSRDC Muskegon Area Plan

Map source: Muskegon County, Michigan

Coun

ty

Villa

ge

City

Tow

nshi

p

14

7

16

Challenge 1: Governments

Challenge 2: Economics

Graph source: W.E. Upjohn Institute

Challenge 3: Apathy

Apathy

-5,000

10,000 15,000 20,000

19,346 16,446

8,950

2,687 5,099

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2006)

A boon in tourism?

• Challenge 1: Governments• Challenge 2: Economics• Challenge 3: Apathy

The challenge for Muskegon