By: Deborah Johnson Wood
On September 4, Kara Wood stepped into her new position as Grand Rapids' Economic Development Director with many goals for the city already in mind. Wood, 29, previously served as Director of Downtown Core and the SmartZone Liaison for the City of Lansing Economic Development Corporation. Before that, she was with the MEDC and MSHDA. 0
"Kara is the first 'Millennial' to secure a significant position of leadership responsible for development for a major urban area," says Joe Bergstrom, director of MSHDA's CATeam. "My guess is she is probably the first Millennial to have a such a position, not only in the state, but in the country."
Millenials, also known as Generation Y, are the cohort of people born roughly between 1984 and 1994.
"This is a good example of a city hiring someone who has both experience and youth in her corner to help lead efforts in the 21st century economy," Bergstrom adds.
Wood has a lengthy list of goals she'll focus on. Her top priority is implementing a policy on Corridor Improvement Districts (CIDs), a tax increment financing mechanism for commercial corridors widely supported by neighborhood business advocates.
"There are very few [CIDs] in the state of Michigan," Wood says. "The city is putting together a policy and working to get a plan in place for the funds and the ability to sustain that plan."
Other goals include working more closely with businesses in Michigan Hill's SmartZone to ensure they receive important city services; developing the identity of Michigan Hill by advancing the streetscape improvement and beautification plan; adding business incubator space through the WMSTI; investigating possible Renaissance Zone extensions; and making sure development projects in the city get the resources needed to make those projects happen.
Source: Kara Wood, City of Grand Rapids; Joe Bergstrom, Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Photograph courtesy of Kara Wood
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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