When it comes to cybercrime, the question is no longer if you will be affected, but when, and with more than 300,000 open jobs in the cyber security field, many companies struggle to keep up with hackers. A new facility in Grand Rapids' Westside neighborhood is training cyber security professionals to fight back against these threats.
Public transit and dedicated lanes for non-motorized vehicles make it possible for more people to get to their jobs, homes, schools, and other destinations faster and more reliably than ever before, but they've also faced challenges in implementation, not just from city leaders, but from residents themselves. Here are the people who are finding out just how Grand Rapidians feel about bicycling in their city, and the plans they are implementing to increase bicycle access, adoption, and awareness.
About 132,000 tons of food waste winds up in West Michigan landfills every year. The number is even higher for plastics and inorganic waste. Members of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum are working together to drive that number down to zero.
A partnership between startup accelerator Seamless IoT and coding boot camps run by Grand Circus is funneling local talent into high tech/high growth positions. After a month of focused training, graduates are equipped to enter the tech workforce, with average starting salaries of around $52,000 a year.
New technology offered by private and non-profit organizations in West Michigan is guiding job seekers to their career goals, helping returning citizens get back into the workforce, and even helping new Americans thrive in their communities.
Whether inventing a novel solution or building a billion-dollar business, innovators in West Michigan have a few traits in common. They all share stories of tenacity and curiosity, and there's much more to learn from them at local meetup groups like the Grand Rapids Inventors Network or the Michigan Inventors Coalition, or in more academic environments like GVSU's Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
Plastic waste is a growing problem, in Grand Rapids, in West Michigan, in the United States, and the rest of the world. Here are the individuals and businesses that are working to use and reuse plastic more sustainably.
Printers hold a responsibility to their clients, the community, and the environment. As a B Corporation, Swift Printing takes that one step further, putting people and planet over profits. Meanwhile, Crop Marks pushes for environmental sustainability in everything it produces, which is quite a lot.
The river is crossed by hundreds of thousands of people every day, on their way to work, school, and just passing through town. Likely few of them are fighting for control of it, but then again, they may not realize its significance. Here are the stories of those who do.
In the Urban Innovation Exchange series, Editor Matthew Russell highlights the people and projects transforming West Michigan through sustainable efforts. From education to city building to recycling, these are the leaders making change in our communities.
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