RLF Background

The population of Ottawa County has grown at a faster rate than every other county in the State of Michigan since 2010. Ottawa County has also added more jobs per capita than any other County in the State over the same time period. Meanwhile, new housing construction has not kept pace with the rate of population and job growth in the County.

The population of Ottawa County has grown at a faster rate than every other county in the State of Michigan since 2010. Ottawa County has also added more jobs per capita than any other County in the State over the same time period. Meanwhile, new housing construction has not kept pace with the rate of population and job growth in the County.

For the 17-year period between 1989 and 2005, an average of 2,040 new housing units were constructed each year. Residential construction fell by roughly 75% during the period between 2006 and 2012. Since 2012, new housing construction has averaged 1,323 units per year, this is roughly two-thirds of the average number of units built prior to 2005, despite the much quicker pace of growth in the community.