Muskegon Economic Development Agency Announces New Name, Launches New Website
Muskegon, MI – Muskegon’s principal economic development agency, formerly known as Muskegon Area First, is pleased to announce it will now operate under the DBA “Greater Muskegon Economic Development” (GMED). The name change comes with a complete rebranding of the organization, including a new logo, new marketing materials, and a new website.
“It was time to update our name to better identify our mission and the geographic area we serve,” said GMED President/CEO Jim Edmonson. “As the lead economic development group for this region, we work with many businesses and communities that are located outside Muskegon County but are still considered part of greater Muskegon. We also feel that including ‘economic development’ in our name makes it easier for people who need our services to find us.” Edmonson cites the fact that his office manages West Michigan’s 13-county Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) as an example of how the agency’s reach extends well beyond county lines. GMED also manages the West Michigan Food Processing Association (WMFPA), which encompasses a 5-county area.
One of the major components of GMED’s name change and rebranding initiative is the launch of a new economic development website – www.www.developmuskegon.org– which is now live. The website was developed in partnership with the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and is designed to give users a common front door to both organizations’ sites. “We know that many people looking for community information are also doing research about expanding or locating a business,” commented Cindy Larsen, President of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. “They can now toggle between our site (www.muskegon.org) and GMED’s site with ease and find whatever they need, whether that’s information about local business resources or quality of life offerings.”
The new GMED website also includes extensive data on topics like community demographics and cost of living, as well as the Muskegon County Manufacturers Directory, which can be downloaded from the site. In addition, the new website includes a complete listing of Muskegon County’s commercial/industrial properties available for sale or lease. “This is a comprehensive, up-to-date database of our commercial/industrial properties and it is available to anyone at no cost,” Edmonson added. Those who have properties to be included should contact Cathy Brubaker-Clarke in the GMED office at [email protected].
The GMED name change and rebranding initiative was more than a year in the making. The new logo was designed by marketing agency Revel, headquartered in Muskegon, and the new website was developed by Envigor, located in Shelby, Michigan.