Strategic Impact | Ottawa County, MI
Ottawa County, MI
Fillmore

Welcome to the Department of Strategic Impact!

Whether it’s broadband, groundwater, or evaluation and data support, our staff work on a multitude of initiatives that impact the lives of the citizens we serve.

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GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY

Be Water Wise: A Groundwater-Saving Initiative

Over the last decade, Ottawa County residents and businesses have experienced issues related to groundwater, including reports of diminishing capacity and the presence of elevated levels of sodium chloride in some water wells.

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FARMLAND PRESERVATION

Protecting Our Agricultural Heritage

With area farmers producing more than $726 million in products annually, Ottawa County is an agricultural powerhouse. Ottawa County also has a growing population and has a low unemployment rate. But this growth comes at a cost to agriculture: according to the most recent Ag Census, Ottawa County lost 8% of its farms and 16% of its farmed acreage. Ottawa County’s Farmland Preservation Program seeks to protect this vital industry and slow the loss of farms and farmland through programmatic efforts, including the Purchase of Development Rights Program.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Brownfield Redevelopment Initiatives

Brownfields are idle, underutilized, or vacant industrial or commercial properties where redevelopment is hindered by real or perceived environmental contamination, blight, or functional obsolescence. Many sites sit unused for decades because the cost of cleanup for these sites can be high and uncertain. DSI works to effectively deploy and promote state-authorized programs to stimulate economic growth.

Highlighted Projects

County Statistics

The Department maintains a variety of up-to-date demographic and economic statistics for Ottawa County and its local units of government.

 

Focus Areas

Strategic Impact

Economic Development

Our goal is to keep businesses thriving by bringing and keeping good jobs with competitive wages to the county, ensuring reliable tax revenue so we can continue to provide effective services.

Strategic Impact

Land Use

The Land Use team works to collaboratively ensure wise usage of the county’s finite space while accounting for disparate interests.

Strategic Impact

Evaluation & Research

Staff perform long-term evaluation projects and build evaluation capacity for various County departments, local units of government, and non-profit organizations.