Sustainability is more than just products and services, it’s part of our culture.
From the earliest days of the environmental movement, West Michigan has understood the value of sustainable business practices. More than a decade later, West Michigan is a big part of Michigan's sustainable industry, which was recently recognized in a
Brookings Institution report. It's findings showed Michigan has:
- Nearly 77,000 clean economy jobs with a mean wage of $40,558
- A statewide sustainable industry that ranks 12th among the 50 states, and
- Green manufacturing sectors that include sustainable products for the consumer products, waste management, public transit, sustainable and energy-saving building materials, and organic food and farming industries.
Green West Michigan
West Michigan has consistently demonstrated its leadership in sustainable products and practices. Some notable achievements include:
- A "clean jobs" cluster employing nearly 9,000, ranking Greater Grand Rapids 59th among the country's 100 largest metropolitan areas
- 74% of the metro area's mid-level or "blue collar" jobs converted to "green collar" jobs, placing Grand Rapids above the 66% national average
- Double-digit growth in the conservation, HVAC and building control systems and green building materials industries from 2003 to 2010
- National leadership in the construction of LEED-certified buildings
- A regional sustainable momentum that has been recognized by Fast Company and the Detroit Free Press.
Leading Employers:
Green consumer products, agribusiness, appliances, wind power, and HVAC and building control systems comprise West Michigan's leading industry segments in terms of employment. Several manufacturers within those industries have gained national recognition for their innovation and industry leadership. Some of our leading employers include:
To learn more about our location advantages, contact us or talk to our Business Development team.