In collaboration with the Economic Development Council of Livingston County (EDCLC) and the Workforce Intelligence Network, Ann Arbor SPARK recently completed a benchmarking report of Livingston County’s economic growth. The report includes proof of the region’s continued economic success and an action plan for continued economic growth.
“The benchmarking report highlights important considerations for economic development: The community is growing, and there are real opportunities here in recruiting and retaining talent and businesses,” explained Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. “The report also shows that Livingston County has benefited from new investment from the healthcare sector and international investment especially in the manufacturing sector.”
“The study primarily looked at real estate and talent, two of the most critical factors in economic development decisions,” added Rich Perlberg, board chair, EDCLC. “The community has seen tremendous growth, and keeping that momentum going requires evaluation of our land use and site readiness. The benchmarking study also shows that we have an opportunity to encourage our well-educated population to work closer to home. Livingston County is a great place to raise a family, but could offer opportunities for people to minimize their commutes by continuing to encourage high skilled job growth in our own backyard.”
Other key findings in the benchmarking report include:
- Two of the top 10 in-demand occupations are in healthcare, presenting the opportunity for Ann Arbor SPARK and EDCLC to partner with healthcare providers and educators to encourage middle and high schoolers to consider careers in the industry.
- Greenfield development is a key opportunity for attracting new investment in the region.
- Manufacturing continues to be a driver of Livingston’s economy. Of the similar counties around the country, Livingston had the highest concentration of manufacturing businesses.
The full economic benchmarking report is available here.
About Ann Arbor SPARK
Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is advancing the region by encouraging and supporting business acceleration, attraction and retention. The organization identifies and meets the needs of business at every stage, from start-ups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County, Livingston County, the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone (LDFA), Washtenaw County /Michigan Works!, the City of Ann Arbor, Bank of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborUSA.org.
