Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Planning Manager Tim Kelly emails a weekly GR Forward update to the project Steering Committee. Here's this week's communication:

Happy Friday Everyone:

Hope you are finishing another great week.

Updates

Just a quick reminder that our Open House is maintaining regular hours from 3p – 7p every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you have not had a chance to stop down, we would love to see you. Also, if you have any upcoming meetings that you would like to use the space for, please let me know. This week we were happy to host the Downtown Market staff for their weekly meeting.

Last night we heard a presentation from Chase Bank on their Downtown spending analysis. Thanks to those who were able to make it. For anyone interested in seeing the analysis, please let me know and I will be happy to share the details.

Lastly, we are excited that our neighborhood meetings will begin next week. On Wednesday we will be meeting with the Heartside Business Association, and Thursday night we will be meeting with our neighbors in Black Hills. Three additional meetings will occur the following week. Given this is an extremely important part of our outreach efforts, we are really looking forward to these meetings.

Presentations

Another busy week getting out in the community for our team. Again, if anyone has suggestions for meetings that we can attend please let me know.

• Convention and Arena Authority Leadership Breakfast

• Convention and Arena Authority Community Inclusion Group

• LINC First Friday

• Economic Development Corporation / Brownfield Authority Board Meeting

• SWAN/JBPN Annual Membership Meeting

• Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association Board

• Radio Interview on LaMejor

Web Numbers

The website and our Facebook account continue to get heavy traffic. As always, be sure to share the links below with anyone that might be interested so we can continue to promote GR Forward.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/grfwd

Twitter - https://twitter.com/grfwd

Instagram - http://instagram.com/grfwd#

Resources

This week I want to share an article from Downtown Steering Committee member, and Principal at Williams & Works, Lynee Wells.

Earlier this year, Lynee convened a group of 11 kids, age 5-7, for a day of urban exploration. She recounts the day with this article in the Rapidian, and provides a wealth of valuable insight into the experience of viewing the city through the eyes of our future city leaders. Thanks again to Lynee for taking the time to share her experience touring the kids, and to the Rapidian for continuing to be a great partner for GR Forward.

As always, if you have any questions please let me know. Otherwise, have a great weekend.