"Businesses tell us again and again that this is a great place to operate and grow. They value the workforce, the business community, and the support they find here. Maintaining that momentum means investing now in the talent and infrastructure companies will need to grow here in the future."
Lakeshore Advantage, the economic development organization serving Allegan and Ottawa counties, released its 2026 Business Insights Report, offering a snapshot of the Lakeshore region economy and the opportunities and challenges shaping its future.
The findings point to a region with momentum. More employers reported increasing sales and market share, expansion expectations edged upward, and investment in research and development strengthened. At the same time, employers continue to identify workforce needs and other barriers that could constrain future growth, reinforcing the need for continued investment in talent pathways, available sites and infrastructure.
The report is based on interviews with 140 business executives representing a strategic sample of the region’s approximately 700 primary employers. Interviews were conducted by Lakeshore Advantage team members between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Half of the companies surveyed employ fewer than 50 full-time employees.
“Businesses tell us again and again that this is a great place to operate and grow,” says Mandy Cooper, interim president of Lakeshore Advantage and senior vice president of strategic growth. “They value the workforce, the business community and the support they find here. Maintaining that momentum means investing now in the talent and infrastructure companies will need to grow here in the future.”
Key insights from the report include:
- Business momentum strengthened. 56.8% of companies reported increasing sales, up from 48.5% last year. The share reporting declining sales fell from 15.4% to 5.8%.
- Expansion expectations edged upward. 35.5% of companies reported plans to expand within the next three years, up from 33% last year and reversing a multiyear decline.
- Companies are making deeper R&D investments. 19.8% of companies reported spending 6% or more of sales on research and development, nearly double the share reported in 2025.
- The quality of the region's workforce is an advantage, but availability is a challenge. 45.5% of companies reported recruitment challenges. Of those experiencing recruitment issues, 73% reported demand for skilled labor, including engineering and automation, maintenance technicians, machining, skilled trades and other positions.
- Employers are investing in their own talent pipelines. 60.7% of companies surveyed offer apprenticeships, internships, tuition reimbursement, or other career development support.
Regional employers identified workforce and talent among the region’s top strengths, even as specialized talent remains difficult to recruit. Companies continue investing in R&D and future products, while the availability of talent, sites and infrastructure will influence their ability to translate those investments into future growth.
“This research gives us a regional view of where employers see opportunity and where they are encountering friction,” commented Ryan Ferrier, director of business solutions at Lakeshore Advantage. “It helps us focus resources and partnerships on the conditions businesses need to invest, innovate and create jobs here.”
The full 2026 Business Insights Report is available at https://lakeshoreadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2026-BIR.pdf.
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