Market Report from the MLCC, MAF, & EA: please be sure to allow images to fully enjoy this newsletter.
April 2014

                

Upcoming Events

 

 

Business Counseling Appointments  

     

SCORE & MI-SBTDC
Feb 2013 = 48
Feb 2014 = 28
Mar 2013 = 44
Mar 2014 = 36

 

Employment Numbers       

 

Labor force
Jan 2013 = 82,300
Jan 2014 = 82,200            
Feb 2013 = 82,200
Feb 2014 = 83,000
Mar 2013 = 83,514
Mar 2014 = 83,200


Employment     
Jan 2013 = 74,900
Jan 2014 = 75,700
Feb 2013 = 74,100
Feb 2014 = 76,100
Mar 2013 = 76,500
Mar 2014 = 76,600


Employment by Sector

Goods Producing
Feb 2013 = 14,300
Feb 2014 = 14,200
Mar 2013 = 14,500
Mar 2014 = 14,400

Service Providing
Feb 2013 = 45,500
Feb 2014 = 46,600
Mar 2013 = 45,700
Mar 2014 = 46,700


Home Sales (Muskegon County)

     

Homes Sold
Jan 2013 = 132
Jan 2014 = 228
Feb 2013 = 130
Feb 2014 = 129
Mar 2013 = 172 

 

Average Sale Price
Jan 2013 = $75,512
Jan 2014 = $91,873
Feb 2013 = $79,782
Feb 2014 = $97,720
Mar 2013 = $94,618 

 

Airport Traffic    

 

Takeoffs & Landings
Feb 2013 = 1,534
Feb 2014 = 1,835
Mar 2013 = 2,464
Mar 2014 = 3,069   


Airport Cargo in lbs.
Feb 2013 = 653
Feb 2014 = 7,930
Mar 2013 = 5,230
Mar 2014 = 10,080


Commercial Passengers
Feb 2013 = 2,784
Feb 2014 = 2,832
Mar 2013 = 3,514
Mar 2014 = 2,854

 

Michigan Works Statistics


Job Orders 
Feb 2013 = 105
Feb 2014 = 151
Mar 2013 = 97
Mar 2014 = 121

 

Job Seekers
Feb 2013 = 7,674
Feb 2014 = 2,102
Mar 2013 = 7,986
Mar 2014 = 3,493

 

Employers seeking employees
Feb 2013 = 64
Feb 2014 = 14
Mar 2013 = 19
Mar 2014 = 27

 

Known Hires
Dec 2013 = 
119
Jan 2014 = 119
Feb 2014 = 51
Mar 2014 = 3

  

 

Statistics provided by:
The Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth; Local Municipalities, The Michigan Association of Realtors, the Muskegon County Airport, Muskegon Area First, the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Works! Muskegon/Oceana and the Small Business Technology & Development Center.
Check out the County's latest HOT JOBS!

Hot Jobs List

Norton Shores among the best places for Homeownership in Michigan 


NerdWallet, an online resource of information from "Nerds who help you save money and make smart financial decisions!" has compiled a top ten list of the best places for homeownership in Michigan. Norton Shores, in Muskegon County, was listed as number six on the list. Criteria was based on availability of homes, how affordable the area is to live and the growth of the region.    

 

The article highlights Norton Shores' six miles of Lake Michigan real estate and the close proximity to the P.J. Hoffmaster State park. Also mentioned was the support of Muskegon Area First for organization's countywide effort to attract new businesses to the area.    

 

To read the full article, click here.

 

 

 

Form-Based Code in Muskegon

The City of Muskegon has begun the process of updating zoning in the downtown and adjacent areas. The new zoning practice, called form based-code, takes a simpler and more proactive approach to the zoning process. Once implemented, the new zoning practice should allow developers and property owners to move through the city approval process more quickly. "We have heard that most developers appreciate form based-codes, because it lets them know up front what to expect when developing in these context areas" said Mike Franzak, City of Muskegon Zoning Administrator. 

City staff began working on this project at the end of 2013 and held its first public forum on the topic in March at the Century Club in downtown Muskegon. More than 70 individuals participated in the forum to learn more about form based codes and provide their feedback on zone areas. If you would like to provide feedback, follow this link for a short presentation on form based codes and this link for more specific information on the form based code proposal for the city of Muskegon.

 

 

 

Strategic Expansion at the Convention and Visitors Bureau
 

In an effort to draw new meetings, conferences, and trade shows to the area, the Muskegon County CVB recently added a new Sales Executive to its staff. Bernadette Benkert, a local hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry, will primarily focus on the government and association markets to attract new groups to Muskegon County.  

 

Benkert is reaching out to state and national associations and government groups throughout the state to highlight Muskegon's meeting facilities and attractions. The CVB is also working on a new meeting planners guide and other collateral materials to aid in selling Muskegon to planners. If your group or organization holds meetings, seminars or conferences, the CVB can help. Contact Benkert at [email protected]

  

 

 

 

 


This report it brought to you by: 
Muskegon Area First, Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and the Employer's Association of West Michigan

380 W. Western Avenue, Suite 202
Muskegon, MI 49440