The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is a funding tool that Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) administers to help catalyze public and private investment in Grand Rapids’ urban core.
To maintain a high level of openness and transparency, the full recording of the live-streamed DDA Board meeting on November 13, 2024, is available on YouTube.
The Board met on this agenda and took the following actions:
Early Childhood Center Funding Request
The Board approved funding to support the development of an Early Childhood Center at Rapid Central Station in Downtown Grand Rapids. In addition to aligning with several goals from the GR Forward Plan (retaining and attracting families, growing a residential neighborhood, driving economic growth and stability), it will address the significant gap in available early childhood spaces in our community (20,500 needed countywide; 7,329 needed in Grand Rapids). The project is a partnership between the WK Kellogg Foundation, the YMCA, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Head Start for Kent County and other community organizations. The co-location with Rapid Central Station makes this project one of (if not the) first transit-oriented early childcare centers in the nation.
The Board approved funds not-to-exceed $200,000 to support an Early Childhood Center at Rapid Central Station.
Division Avenue Reconstruction
The Board approved funding for continued work on Division Avenue from Fulton to Crescent. This two-year project completed initial underground infrastructure utility work in 2024 and will continue in 2025 with surface level improvements to create a multi-modal gateway street. The DDA-funded portion of the next phase of work will include street lighting enhancements, snowmelt replacement, wayfinding signage foundations and other improvements. The completed projected will include protected bike lanes, new pavement, curb, gutter and sidewalks among other improvements.
The Board approved funding not-to-exceed $605,400 for streetlighting upgrades, snowmelt work and wayfinding signage foundations.
Downtown Liquor License
The board approved a resolution for the issuance of a Development District liquor license for Le Macaron located at 132 Monroe Center Ave NW.
Staff Updates
Return to the River Recap (24:46)
