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:

I hope you are all finishing up another great week.

This week we continued to review and edit the draft plan. A lot of reading (and coffee), but it is exciting to see the plan start to take shape. Our team is very much looking forward to sharing it with all of you in the coming weeks.

In addition to writing and reviewing the plan, we are continuing to get the word out in the community about GR Forward. This week we gave presentations to the groups listed below, and next week we are looking forward to participating at events with SMG during their 10th Anniversary Celebration of DeVos Place, and LINC during their Rock the Block. We will also be providing an update to the DDA Board on Wednesday at 8a. Again, if anyone knows of a group or organization that would be interested in having a presentation, please let me know.

  • Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leaders Program
  • Grand Rapids Rotary Club

Web Numbers

The latest web and social media numbers are below. Things have slowed a bit since our last public forum, so be sure to continue to share the links below in your network so everyone can stay up to date with GR Forward activities.

Resources

This article on the success of development along the Milwaukee River is interesting. Over the past 10 years the City invested heavily in development of a riverwalk to provide access and recreation along the former industrial waterway. While there are some finishing touches required to complete the full riverwalk, the City credits over $1 billion in development to the progress made to date. Of particular note is that a component of that development has included over 2,000 new housing units. The housing not only helps grow the City’s tax base and support retail, but it is also helping reverse the trend of stagnant population growth experienced for decades. Several businesses are also relocating near the riverwalk as a way to retain and recruit employees. While Milwaukee is certainly not alone in recognizing the economic development potential of improved river access, seeing their success is encouraging as we think about investments along our Grand River.

In addition, this article on the importance of creating affordable work space for small scale manufacturing is a good read. The article points out that while conversations on affordable housing are critically important; an aspect that is frequently overlooked is access to affordable work space. People need jobs, and increasingly they are using their own skills to manufacture products. By providing space for workers to manufacture their products and gain skills, communities not only help provide jobs, but they also give opportunities to people to grow wealth and establish root in their communities. This is an issue we have talked about throughout GR Forward, particularly as it relates to growing and continuing to diversify our local economy. While Grand Rapids is somewhat ahead of the game with existing maker spaces like the Geek Group, there may be opportunities to expand this concept to provide resources and job training to residents throughout the City.

As always, let me know if you have any questions. Otherwise, we hope to see you at Movies in the Park, Festival of the Arts, and/or one of the other great activities going on Downtown this weekend.