Located on the sugar sand shores of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Grand River, Grand Haven is an active resort town and the epicenter of West Michigan's Water Wonderland. Grand Haven State Park is regularly rated one of the nation's top beaches. And the city features more than 100 miles of bike trail, 2 Great Lakes lighthouses, a busy waterfront boardwalk, and an extensive fleet of charter fishing boats. The city has felt the pain of Michigan's deindustrialization. But the community also is acting aggressively to reinvest in the urban core, leverage traditional assets such as a distinct quality of life, and position itself to compete in the 21st century. With the Big Lake on the front doorstep, it's hard to imagine anything but success.
375 mayors from across the US gathered to discuss and learn about environmental issues and the positive effects of building ‘green’ with recycled materials and energy efficient systems. Grand Rapids ranked among the cities high on the list for producing eco-friendly products.
They might not be Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google fame. But Mat Nguyen and Mike Harris are building a respectable tech business of their own.
The once empty streets of Philly's Central City District now bustle with new workers, residents, and sidewalk cafes. Phil Levy credits the establishment of a special business improvement district, an idea GR now is looking to expand.
Nearly 21,000 people, a full 10 percent of Grand Rapids' population, were born outside the United States. Meet a few of them who are changing the city's culture and economy for the better.
The sustainability movement is commercializing new ideas, generating jobs, and fueling economic expansion from Arizona to Japan. How long before Michigan takes it seriously?
Well, there's no snow on the ground yet. But, like rappers Run DMC caroled, "it's Christmas time and we got the spirit." So we're taking a break for a couple weeks. But we'll be back January 11, 2007 to bring you a new year of stories about growth, investment, and unique stories of urban life on Michigan's west coast.
The state’s largest energy supplier announced a plan that enables urban customers to subscribe to receive energy from renewable resources.
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