Jobs, housing, professional development and soul food on the menu at LINC

With the burgeoning business and entertainment scene in downtown Grand Rapids, it is easy to overlook the revitalization and job creation that is happening in many area neighborhoods.

For example, in Southtown, an area that's defined by Wealthy Street on the north, Fuller Avenue on the east, Dickinson Street to Buchanan Avenue on the south, and Buchanan Avenue to Albany to Division Avenue on the west, LINC, the community development agency, has been on a roll.

Jorge Gonzalez, director of economic development, has a long list of new programs ranging from workforce development to co-working to professional development to housing and commercial real estate that he is delighted to share.

"Our new cafe continues to grow," says Gonzales of the LINC Soul Food Cafe, which opened earlier in the year. He says there have been a few menu changes based on customer feedback  and most recently they have added an outdoor grill where customers can walk up and order a meal to-go. Besides fresh food, the cafe also serves as a catalyst for workforce development. Hiring local, they now employ four cooks on rotation with seven servers and kitchen help. Besides being open for meals seven days a week, Gonzalez says they cater an average of 20 events per month.

Gonzalez says the cafe team is also very intentional with sourcing products locally and is currently working with Well House to purchase produce from their two community gardens.  

Beyond the Soul Food Cafe, Gonzalez says LINC has introduced a series of weekly  professional development workshops and networking events. "Our 'First Friday' is a premier networking event and typically draws between 100-200 people from around the community. It features live jazz, spoken word and work from local artists," says Gonzalez. He says the weekly workshops are focused on topics such interviewing skills, resume writing and assistance for first-time home buyers.  

One of the biggest initiatives in the works is the new Southtown Project, a development that features 24 residential units and 6000 square feet of commercial space that is set to be completed by October 1. Gonzalez says he is currently reviewing possible tenants for the space: "We are looking for tenants that will create jobs, that will be sustainable in the long run and have a positive impact in the community."

LINC also features a business development center and a co-working space where entrepreneurs can refine business plans and build their professional networks.

To learn more about LINC, you can visit their website here.

Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor