The Ottawa County Business Advisory Council (BAC) was established in the summer of 2014 as a means for business leaders and K-12 educational leaders to partner together to understand and support employment needs within Ottawa County. In addition, the BAC has a goal to engage our youth in better understanding the career opportunities available in their community. Members of the BAC consist of representatives from education (superintendents, principals and career coaches) and business leaders of Ottawa County’s leading industry sectors. The BAC would not be where it is today without the support of its community partners. The BAC was established based on the efforts of the OCIC and our partners to build a stronger relationship between education and business in an effort to develop a pipeline for our future workforce. 

Since 2014, the BAC has seen over 4,500 students participate in the annual career showcase event, 72 students complete the CHOOSE Program, 62 students graduate from the Skilled Trades Academy, held five successful teacher boot camp events and eight student boot camps, and collaborated on other ventures that have allowed students to gain real world experience and prepare them for life after high school.

The BAC believes that 100% of Ottawa County students should graduate from high school with a plan for their future. While Ottawa County school graduation rates are above the state average, the BAC believes that every student should graduate from high school with a solid foundation and plan for future career, college, military and/or vocational employment. The BAC aims to educate and expose Ottawa County students to the skills and continuing education needed to fill in-demand jobs in Ottawa County.