The Secret is Out ...

The Secret is Out...
Allendale is the Hot Spot to be in Ottawa County.
 
Allendale Charter Township’s population increased by 58.2% between 2000 – 2010 and grew another 22.3% between 2010 – 2016 making Allendale the fastest growing community in Ottawa County. That means almost 5,000 new men, women and children joined our community in just 6 short years brining out population to 25,323. This does not include the nearly 25,000 students Grand Valley State University educates annually.
 
Allendale’s growth outpaced the next fastest growing community in Ottawa County, Jamestown Township, by 8.3%. Updated population estimates for local units of government will be available later this year, however current projections do not show any signs of growth slowing down. Allendale is expected to grow by 98.2% in the next fifteen years.
 
“Having lived in Allendale for over twenty years, I’ve witnessed tremendous growth in both the residential and business sectors. The Allendale Chamber is at the forefront of business and community development and a great example of how we can make Allendale a desired place to live, work and establish a business when we work together. I can only imagine what the next twenty years have in store for this great community,” said Rence Meredith, Allendale Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors President and Grand Valley State University Facilities Maintenance Supervisor.
 
Allendale issued twenty new business building permits in 2017 and ten were issued the year before that. These are non-residential, non-industrial business building permits valued at a combined construction value of $17,713,237.00. For comparison, the City of Holland issued twenty-one building permits in 2017 and the next closest municipality in number of permits issued was Holland Township at thirteen.
 
So why the growth in Allendale? Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Chairman and Allendale resident, Greg DeJong shares, “there are so many positive reasons to explain the growth in Allendale. Affordable land, attractive property taxes, passionate first responders and community policing deputies, proactive local leadership, fantastic public and Christian education options and the home of Grand Valley State University. We are a faith-based community where everyone is welcome… it’s a place where you belong.”
 
When residents are asked what they like most about the Allendale community, the answer almost always given is the “small town feeling.” With current and projected growth, maintaining the character and charm of the community can be challenging. It will be important for local leaders to take that into consideration when making decisions about how we develop into the future.

Together we are building a better business community.
Janessa Smit, Executive Director

Statistics - https://www.miottawa.org/Departments/Planning/county_statistics.htm