August 19, 2025 • 5 mins
Jennifer Owens, CEO of Lakeshore Advantage, joins us to discuss the top 10 priorities that economic leaders in michigan have for statewide growth and prosperity.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is West Michigan's Morning News Steve Kelly and Brett Bikita. Yesterday,
economic development leaders for the entire state unveil their top
ten priorities for statewide growth and prosperity. To chat a
little bit about that, the CEO of Lake Shore Advantage,
Jennifer Owens, back on the liveline. Thanks for doing this
this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Jennifer, Oh, my pleasure. It's great to chat with you today.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
And how perfect is it that you're hosting what some
two hundred economic developers right now?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, tell the Michigan Economic Developers Association conference is the
statewide association of economic developers that's actually been being held
in Holland today. So I'll be going later today to
kind of address that group and share somewhat these top
ten priorities that a small niche group of ten top
leaders throughout the state I put together to really make
(00:51):
sure we continue to be competitive, as we say, strong
competition from other states to counties who want to tract
our people and attract our businesses away, and we definitely
don't want that to happen.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Not necessarily in any order. But first on the list
that I see here is business attraction and retention, Jennifer,
that's nothing new, but it certainly is important.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
It is important too, and so this kind of top
ten tool is making sure that we have this like
strong toolbox to attract our existing businesses, growth and new companies.
So I heard you got a news article, our news
report from Texas. Very competitive state. They've got a half
a billion dollars in cash that they can actually award
(01:34):
two businesses to relocate or to grow in Texas. So
this is a key part of our toolbox to make
sure we can attract the growth of our existant companies
and also attract new companies when that makes sense. So
Texas and many other states have very competitive tools, and
this will make sure we can commut.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Us have those, Jennifer. The landscape along the lake shore
is beautiful. I think you appreciate it more as you
get older. I've lived your my whole life, but to
see the development. I was just driving this weekend. We
had to go down to a soccer game at Stevensville
Lake Shore. And you know, I live in Byron Center,
but driving the coast, I mean, whether it's you know,
sagatuk holland you keep going Grand Haven, Muskegan they're all
(02:14):
kind of challenging and pushing each other in good ways,
right because they realized that thirty one Corridor is becoming
more and more of a hotbed.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, it actually is, and we need to make sure
we grow in a smart way too. But part of
really growing our region is being competitive to attract talents here.
And so another part of this tool is the RAP program.
It's the Vitalization Ready Program, which can allow communities to
(02:44):
get some to court place making iniship So in Holland,
we're almost done with the ice rink and this program
provided them a million dollars to move forward with that
ice drink. And having amenities like that will allow us
retract and maintain talent in the region. We're facing obviously
a demographic shortagees we have our baby groomers believing and
(03:08):
so making sure our can is continue to be invest
in class and that you want to visit here, but
you want to live here as well. And so investments
like the ice drink or in Sunville, a brand new
hotel that's a revitalized that in Breakfast, those investments make
a big difference to keep talent in our region.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Settling on talent is evident on this show of how
Not to Do Things. But speaking of talent, talk to
us a little bit more about the going pro Talent
Fund or needing more money for the Regional Talent Attraction
and Retention Fund as well. Sometimes you've got to put
a little money in to get a little money out well.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
And one of the things I want to say, obviously,
we want to make sure that the state stollers are
spent wisely and they can have a big return on investment.
And some of the best return on investment is investing
in our existing workforce. So the going Profund, which has
been vitally important, can provide support to employers to retrain
their existing workforce or train new workers. Obviously, we're facing
(04:11):
a huge transformation with AI and so keeping people up
to speed on the latest technology, machinery, equipment, automation, this
tool can really help increase the skill set of our
existing workers. And then we really believe that attracting retaining
talent is hyperlocal. So this also involves a new tool
(04:34):
to allow organizations like myself put in place initiatives to
attract and retain our existing workforce. Our team is being
ready to launch a talent young Professionals Advisory Group, which
we'll all getting direct feedback from those ages twenty to
thirty five and so being able to support things like that, Hello,
(04:58):
West Michigan. It is a great organization them that's attracting
regions in so really putting resources into things that are
happening local, because truly economic development is hyperlocal and empowering
organizations likely to advantage and others throughout the state to
do the great work they do more effectively, inefficiently.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Well, those leaders, including you, sure are the right people
for the job. CEO of Lake Shore Advantage, Jennifer Owens.
Great stuff is always thank you.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Thank you so much to really appreciate it. Have a
wonderful day,
This is West Michigan's Morning News Steve Kelly and Brett Bikita. Yesterday,
economic development leaders for the entire state unveil their top
ten priorities for statewide growth and prosperity. To chat a
little bit about that, the CEO of Lake Shore Advantage,
Jennifer Owens, back on the liveline. Thanks for doing this
this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Jennifer, Oh, my pleasure. It's great to chat with you today.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
And how perfect is it that you're hosting what some
two hundred economic developers right now?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, tell the Michigan Economic Developers Association conference is the
statewide association of economic developers that's actually been being held
in Holland today. So I'll be going later today to
kind of address that group and share somewhat these top
ten priorities that a small niche group of ten top
leaders throughout the state I put together to really make
(00:51):
sure we continue to be competitive, as we say, strong
competition from other states to counties who want to tract
our people and attract our businesses away, and we definitely
don't want that to happen.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Not necessarily in any order. But first on the list
that I see here is business attraction and retention, Jennifer,
that's nothing new, but it certainly is important.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
It is important too, and so this kind of top
ten tool is making sure that we have this like
strong toolbox to attract our existing businesses, growth and new companies.
So I heard you got a news article, our news
report from Texas. Very competitive state. They've got a half
a billion dollars in cash that they can actually award
(01:34):
two businesses to relocate or to grow in Texas. So
this is a key part of our toolbox to make
sure we can attract the growth of our existant companies
and also attract new companies when that makes sense. So
Texas and many other states have very competitive tools, and
this will make sure we can commut.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Us have those, Jennifer. The landscape along the lake shore
is beautiful. I think you appreciate it more as you
get older. I've lived your my whole life, but to
see the development. I was just driving this weekend. We
had to go down to a soccer game at Stevensville
Lake Shore. And you know, I live in Byron Center,
but driving the coast, I mean, whether it's you know,
sagatuk holland you keep going Grand Haven, Muskegan they're all
(02:14):
kind of challenging and pushing each other in good ways,
right because they realized that thirty one Corridor is becoming
more and more of a hotbed.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, it actually is, and we need to make sure
we grow in a smart way too. But part of
really growing our region is being competitive to attract talents here.
And so another part of this tool is the RAP program.
It's the Vitalization Ready Program, which can allow communities to
(02:44):
get some to court place making iniship So in Holland,
we're almost done with the ice rink and this program
provided them a million dollars to move forward with that
ice drink. And having amenities like that will allow us
retract and maintain talent in the region. We're facing obviously
a demographic shortagees we have our baby groomers believing and
(03:08):
so making sure our can is continue to be invest
in class and that you want to visit here, but
you want to live here as well. And so investments
like the ice drink or in Sunville, a brand new
hotel that's a revitalized that in Breakfast, those investments make
a big difference to keep talent in our region.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Settling on talent is evident on this show of how
Not to Do Things. But speaking of talent, talk to
us a little bit more about the going pro Talent
Fund or needing more money for the Regional Talent Attraction
and Retention Fund as well. Sometimes you've got to put
a little money in to get a little money out well.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
And one of the things I want to say, obviously,
we want to make sure that the state stollers are
spent wisely and they can have a big return on investment.
And some of the best return on investment is investing
in our existing workforce. So the going Profund, which has
been vitally important, can provide support to employers to retrain
their existing workforce or train new workers. Obviously, we're facing
(04:11):
a huge transformation with AI and so keeping people up
to speed on the latest technology, machinery, equipment, automation, this
tool can really help increase the skill set of our
existing workers. And then we really believe that attracting retaining
talent is hyperlocal. So this also involves a new tool
(04:34):
to allow organizations like myself put in place initiatives to
attract and retain our existing workforce. Our team is being
ready to launch a talent young Professionals Advisory Group, which
we'll all getting direct feedback from those ages twenty to
thirty five and so being able to support things like that, Hello,
(04:58):
West Michigan. It is a great organization them that's attracting
regions in so really putting resources into things that are
happening local, because truly economic development is hyperlocal and empowering
organizations likely to advantage and others throughout the state to
do the great work they do more effectively, inefficiently.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Well, those leaders, including you, sure are the right people
for the job. CEO of Lake Shore Advantage, Jennifer Owens.
Great stuff is always thank you.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Thank you so much to really appreciate it. Have a
wonderful day,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.