The closure of the BC Cobb power plant in 2016 left Muskegon County searching for ways to replace lost tax revenue and port activity.
As the community reeled from the impact, local leaders began looking to West Michigan’s roots – from its fertile soil to its agricultural diversity – for solutions.
That set in motion a series of efforts that recently culminated in a $125,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to conduct a study of the region’s agricultural and food processing assets and potential.
“Losing (the Cobb plant) made us think as a community: How do we replace the tax base? What happens to our port facilities?” says Erin Kuhn, executive director of the
West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC).
“After a lot of studies, we realized the ag and food processing industry in West Michigan had untapped potential, not just in Muskegon County, but across the region.”
Guiding development
In 2018, the WMSRDC applied for a Build Back Better grant. Though it was unsuccessful then, the effort laid the groundwork for the current study, called the West Michigan Agriculture Cluster Impact Analysis.
“We’re now focusing on enhancing our ag and food processing sectors by leveraging partnerships and collaborations across many organizations,” says Kuhn.
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Michigan is the second most diverse agricultural state in the country.
The study will focus on Lake, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana counties, aiming to provide data that will guide stakeholders, promote regional assets and align workforce training with industry needs.
“The studies that led us to focus on agriculture were conducted back in 2016. A lot has changed since then,” Kuhn says. “This new study, which we’re working on with Michigan State University’s GIS (geographic information systems) department, will give us up-to-date data and a clearer picture of our region’s assets, from farms and utilities to zoning and soil types. This data will be made public and accessible to industry leaders, community leaders, and economic developers, allowing us to make better, informed decisions."
Understanding assets
Kuhn says the study, set to take place over the next 12 months, will include agriculture sector research, GIS asset mapping, and the identification of strategic investments.
The group is partnering with MSU to create an interactive asset map. It will be publicly accessible, allowing industry leaders and community members to gather information on everything from industrial parks to soil types.
"We have an abundance of fresh water, great soils, and we’re the second most diverse agricultural state in the country, behind California,” says Kuhn. “With climate change hitting places like California hard, we’re positioning West Michigan as a stopgap to help meet the nation’s food processing needs should disaster strike elsewhere. By bringing food processors here, we can lower logistics costs, strengthen our economy, and ensure we’re a viable alternative."
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The ag and food processing industry in West Michigan has untapped potential, say leaders.
Project partners include the MSU Product Center, Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership, Chamber Alliance of Mason County, Oceana County Economic Alliance, Greater Muskegon Economic Development, Lake County Economic Development Alliance, and Muskegon County.
Pioneering effort
In addition to the impact analysis, WMSRDC was selected earlier this year as a host organization through the
Economic Recovery Corps (ERC), a federal program managed by the International Economic Development Council. Annika Gacnik, an ERC fellow, was paired with WMSRDC to focus on expanding support for the agriculture and food processing sectors.
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Annika Gacnik
ERC is part of a pioneering effort to strengthen economic development nationwide. Gacnik, who has a background in the food industry, from wine and fisheries to urban farming, and a master's in food systems from New York University, says she was excited to be part of the first cohort of the national program to support boots-on-the-ground economic development in smaller communities.
Gacnik’s fellowship is structured over 2 1/2 years, through July 2026, giving her the time needed to explore the region’s challenges and opportunities in depth.
“The first year is about getting the lay of the land,” she explained. “I've been talking with processors, producers, and stakeholders to understand the challenges they face, compiling data, and exploring ways to address these challenges. I’m also looking statewide, since many issues here are faced across Michigan.”
Organizations like WMSRDC are stretched thin, and Gacnik adds much-needed capacity to advance the ag sector.
“This has been a methodical journey since 2016, and our goal is to see tangible growth in the next five years by leveraging our region’s agricultural diversity to attract more processors and boost the local economy,” Kuhn says.
Photos courtesy of WMSRDC.