MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Whole Foods East Lansing is just one of the recent development projects impacting the economy. With over 135 employees, Whole Foods staff consist of 120 Meridian Township residents.

“We also have a lot of different local products that are featured in the store that are really good business partners for us,” said Sarah Tack, Whole Foods Team Leader.

Whole Foods sells over 100 local products from Lansing and surrounding areas, but are featuring their local products specifically for the month of April, their one year anniversary.

“Many of those is the owners sole source of income,” said Tack. In 2016, 69,000 jobs were created. 2017 is estimated to add just over 41 thousand, and a projected 50,000 in 2018. Leaving MI with a total of over 200 thousand jobs created in just three years. 

“We want our Township full and active and were trying to accomplish it,” said Meridian Township’s Economic Development Coordinator, Ben Motil.

Meridian Township is on track to open over 50 new business’ in 2017.

“I think it'll be great for the economy, its really gonna boost our image as a prime community and that’s where were really going,” said Motil.

You can expect to see new restaurants, pharmacies, gas stations and stores opening in the next year.

“It’s a good thing for the community, they want to see the activeness, they want to see the development, they want to see construction. It’s great to see new business come in.”

Since 2009, Michigan's unemployment rate has dropped nearly 10 percentage points, leaving Michigan with a low unemployment rate of 5.2 percent.

According to the University of Michigan's economic forecast, it appears Meridian Township is headed in the right direction.