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Trails as talent magnet: Outdoor access is key part of West Michigan’s ‘why here’ conversation
Trails and greenways are no longer just for weekend leisure. Regional leaders say outdoor access has become a key factor in recruiting and a crucial “quality of life” indicator for the contemporary workforce that West Michigan aims to attract and retain.
Latest stories
Hope Starts Here stabilizing early childhood services in wake of policy changes
Long-term perspective keeps Hope Starts Here imperatives relevant despite policy changes.
From Super Green Market to the clinic: two sisters and lessons learned from a community care model
Awatef and Ayah Ayesh are training within a community-based medical school model that encourages future physicians to consider the whole person and to view listening as a vital form of care.
#RG20LookBack: North Monroe’s focus on parks, people, and play is transforming this neighborhood.
For his sixth #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth’s Tommy Allen revisits Monroe North’s transformation into a vibrant riverside neighborhood shaped by redevelopment.
Grand Rapids venture fund launches $20M effort boosting Michigan startups
Grand Rapids-based New Community Transformation Fund secures first close of $20 million fund to expand capital access for underserved Michigan entrepreneurs statewide.
“You keep going”: Disability and first-generation support help nontraditional student navigate college
Kathleen Camp returned to Ferris State University at 39, using support for first-generation students and services from Disability Network West Michigan to overcome barriers.
#RG20LookBack: DACA — A personal view from here to Washington
For his fifth #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth’s Tommy Allen reflects on thinking he understood DACA—until sudden federal changes forced him to learn faster, listen closer, and document how policy reshapes neighbors’ daily lives.
Health equity, representation drive dentist’s mission
Once inspired by a high school mentor, Dr. Michele Bloxson now advances health equity through public dentistry and trauma-informed care.
New toolkit helps Michigan communities design homes for everyone
A new statewide toolkit guides planners and developers to build accessible housing that supports aging residents and people with disabilities.
The museum as a classroom
Educators increasingly rely on the Grand Rapids Public Museum as a dynamic classroom where students can “wake up” history, learn through listening, and find that curiosity and a sense of belonging can be cultivated together … and sometimes through the sharing of individual stories.
Trails as talent magnet: Outdoor access is key part of West Michigan’s ‘why here’ conversation
Trails and greenways are no longer just for weekend leisure. Regional leaders say outdoor access has become a key factor in recruiting and a crucial “quality of life” indicator for the contemporary workforce that West Michigan aims to attract and retain.
#RG20LookBack: How neighborhood identity factors into planning a socially productive park
As part of Rapid Growth’s 20th anniversary, we revisit a 2014 innovation story by Anya Zentmeyer, documenting a subtle but significant shift in Grand Rapids public planning sessions and citywide meetings.
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Solutions that work, from communities like yours. Explore innovative stories from across our network showcasing how neighborhoods are solving today’s challenges together.
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