Muskegon

Set along the shores of Lake Michigan, Muskegon is a harbor town shaped by water and a strong sense of community. Celebrated for its lumber and industrial roots, Muskegon has evolved into a vibrant lakeside destination. From the scenic Muskegon Lake waterfront and Pere Marquette Park to the USS Silversides Submarine Museum and a revitalized downtown, Muskegon blends natural beauty with Midwestern grit and creativity. It’s a place that values its past while embracing fresh energy, welcoming visitors and residents alike with an easygoing charm and plenty of room to explore.

Business Support in Muskegon

From aspiring entrepreneurs to long-standing companies, the MEDC provides support to businesses throughout the Muskegon area.

In November 2023, the Muskegon Innovation Hub at Grand Valley State University – one of the state’s first SmartZones – was among the 27 organizations selected to serve as Small Business Support Hubs (SBSH), providing comprehensive resources and support to the state’s small businesses. The Muskegon Innovation Hub was granted nearly $1.8 million from the SBSH program, part of the $75 million Small Business SmartZones and Business Accelerators initiative passed by the Michigan legislature in February 2023.

As a business incubator, coworking space and supporter of early-stage advanced technology companies, the Muskegon Innovation Hub served 476 companies and provided over $32 million in follow-on investments in 2025.

Established companies are also building their futures in the Muskegon region. In February 2026, Motiv Bowling announced it would be investing $8.975 million and creating 90 jobs for an expansion in Roosevelt Park. The 96,000 square-foot facility will be renovated for bowling ball manufacturing and exporting logistics, expanding the company’s footprint on the west side of the state. The investment received MSF support through a Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant of $540,000.

Motiv was the only manufacturer to make it to every Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) show in the 2025 season. Competitors using Motiv equipment won over half of all PBA titles available over that time.

The bowling industry is in Muskegon’s DNA. Brunswick Bowling Products, the largest manufacturer of bowling equipment in the world, has called Muskegon its home since 1906. Over 100 years later, Brunswick Bowling Products continues to grow and innovate, increasing its Michigan-based workforce by over 20% since 2020 and unveiling new products.

The MEDC has supported Brunswick Bowling Products’ growth over the years through its International Trade services, including trade missions and conducting in-depth market research to help them assess international opportunities and make informed market entry decisions. The MEDC has also facilitated the company’s access to export assistance grants through the former MI Project Exception Program, or MI-PEP, covering 50% of their promotional costs, and continues to support export-related services.

Learn more about Corey Dyskstra, president and CEO of Dykstra Bowling Products since 2017, in his Voices story.

Another legacy business in the region is C.W. Marsh, the oldest continuously operating manufacturer in Muskegon. Founded in 1900, C.W. Marsh is one of only three companies in the country today creating specialized leather seals for hydraulic and pneumatic equipment. The C.W. Marsh building in downtown Muskegon was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2025. Administered in Michigan by the State Historic Preservation Office, this designation solidifies the building’s historical significance and makes it eligible for Historic Preservation Tax Credits.

Placemaking Support in Muskegon

Muskegon celebrates the past with an eye toward the future. In 2016, Muskegon was among the first cities in the state to become certified as a Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) by the MEDC, a designation that shows communities have removed development barriers and streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive to investors.   

Building on the city’s RRC certification, Muskegon has actively worked to become a vibrant lakeshore community. In April 2025, the MSF Board approved a Transformational Brownfield Plan (TBP) to support a redevelopment project at the former Shaw Walker furniture manufacturing site, adding critical housing, commercial space and a parking garage to the area while serving as a catalyst for future investment.  

The roughly $160 million TBP package requested by the City of Muskegon Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and developer Parkland Properties of Michigan will support redevelopment across seven buildings, creating an estimated 571 residential units and about 75,000 square feet of commercial space, including the parking garage. When complete, the project is anticipated to create 200 full-time jobs and bring an estimated total capital investment of over $221 million.  

When completed, the project will have a transformational impact on local economic development and community revitalization. As development continues, the city and region will experience both population growth and long-term prosperity. 

The MEDC has also helped honor Muskegon’s history and those who have served our country through supporting the city’s Veterans Memorial Park. Through the MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program, a crowdfunding campaign helped raise over $50,000 with $50,000 in matching funds from the MEDC to complete the park’s restoration, including work on the limestone fountain, while creating universal accessibility for the space. Situated along the Causeway at the east end of Muskegon Lake, Veterans Memorial Park is a long-time source of pride for Muskegon County residents and veterans alike.

Things to See and Do in Muskegon

From 26 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline to over 60 miles of natural and paved trails, Muskegon provides the quintessential Pure Michigan experience. Enjoy an outdoor adventure at the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sport Park, where you can luge like an Olympian, cross country ski with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and ice skate a quarter-mile trail through the white pine forest.

Beyond the great outdoors, memories can be made at the Hackley & Hume Homes restored Victorian homes – also listed on the National Register of Historic Places – and the Muskegon Museum of Art. As a further nod to history, the USS Silversides Submarine Museum provides an immersive World War II experience with the opportunity to climb aboard the USS Silversides Gato-class submarine.