Grand Rapids’ Restaurant Week to put social zones prominently on display
Grand Rapids Restaurant Week shows off social districts that were developed during COVID lockdowns and expanded to permanent status since.
Stockbridge
Located on the flatlands of the lower West Side, the Stockbridge district is located immediately west of the Grand River and Center City. The area is known for its working-class attitude, rich European traditions and, above all, resilience. The construction of the US 131 highway and Interstate 196 in the 1960's destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in the area. It also scarred the heart and soul of a community. But today the Stockbridge district is emerging as a much stronger and vibrant place than it was before the bulldozers. With a growing selection of pubs, restaurants, and locally-owned specialty shops, as well as aggressive investment in unique urban housing ventures, the Stockbridge area now stands on the leading edge of Grand Rapids' evolution into a thriving 21st century city.
Utilizing tech, talent and connections during Tech Week GR and beyond
Tech Week GR underlines Grand Rapids’ claim to the Silicon Valley of the Midwest. The Right Place and other strategic partners have created a foundation for helping technology companies thrive in Grand Rapids, driven by the live event.
Removing barriers so people can live their best lives
Improving old technologies with new is, in many ways, the heart of improving access for humans. It is also a great motivator for those with the talents to do so. Here are the people behind those efforts and why this work is so important to them and within the region.
Residents get more power in allocating ARPA dollars with participatory budgeting model
City of Grand Rapids is using a new model, the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP), that will give residents more say in how its $2 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will be spent in each of the city's three wards.
Vaccination effort spurs massive collaboration between Kent County and local health care providers
The Kent County Health Department and local health care providers are collaborating on what may be the biggest inter-organizational vaccination effort in Michigan’s history.
Received your absentee ballot application? City has mailed them to all registered voters
Grand Rapids City Clerk mailed absentee ballot applications to all of its registered to voters for the August 4 primary and November 3 election. Here's why it's a secure way to vote.
Catch up with Neighborhoods of GR
Over the past 11 months, Rapid Growth has featured the places and spaces of GR in our Neighborhoods of GR series. Catch up with the amazing people, nonprofits, and businesses that have graced our pages.
Neighborhoods of GR: WestSide evolution continues
According to local professional Paul Soltysiak, The WestSide is diverse with lots of history. It has a wonderful flavor that is tough to define unless one lives, works, or plays here often. It needs to be experienced to be understood. Explore the Westside from Soltysiak's perspective in this installment of Neighborhoods of GR.
