City of Muskegon receives top business success rating

MUSKEGON, Mich. -- An eCities study is recognizing the City of Muskegon for its efforts in entrepreneurial growth and economic development.

The annul study was conducted by researchers at iLabs. It has elevated Muskegon from a four-star rating in 2022 to a five-star rating this year. J

ake Eckholm, the city’s Director of Development Services, says in a written statement that they have been making strategic investments in community and economic development, housing and parks.

Here is more from a Muskegon Shoreline City news release:

Muskegon was honored as a five-star community along with 89 other communities across the state.

“We are very proud of the continued progress in our community as we make strategic investments in community development, housing, parks, and economic development,” said Jake Eckholm, the city’s Director of Development Services. “It is very gratifying to see these investments pay dividends for the folks we serve, as evidenced by our progress in the eCities study, where we have advanced to a 5- Star Community in 2023 from a 4-Star rating in 2022. We look forward to continuing our community’s growth and redevelopment in partnership with our residents, businesses, and other stakeholders.”

The City of Muskegon has made sizeable investments in water and sewer infrastructure, major and local street improvements, parks and recreation amenities, and business and neighborhood development services. The Public Safety Division invested in 15 pop-up block parties and a Community Outreach Bus for police community engagement. The city’s Development Services Division is also a statewide leader in infill housing, spearheading municipally constructed housing units in the city limits over the last decade which has spurred private sector investment in new homes as well.

The eCities study analyzed publicly available data from 277 communities from 54 counties in Michigan. Researchers focused on the five-year changes in property values, community assets, and tax rates, which can demonstrate the growth, investments, and cost of doing business within the community.

For example, over the five-year period of 2018-2022, these communities increased their capital assets by an average of 3.42 percent per year by investments such as park and road improvements, new police and fire equipment, and water system enhancements. Further, these places are home to 87 percent of Michigan’s real commercial property and have 64 percent of the state’s total property value. Communities that have seen the strongest growth in business development over the past five years, while controlling the costs of doing business in town, are designated as five- and four-star communities. Although accounting for less than 20 percent of the state’s cities and townships, the 277 communities analyzed are home to 71 percent of Michigan’s population and 86 percent of the state’s commercial property. “Each year, the eCities project aims to highlight the successes and continued commitment of cities and townships to grow business and support entrepreneurship within their communities,” said Kari Kowalski, iLabs project manager.

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