Stories

Feature Story BelcherLIST

RapidChat: Jash'd Belcher on love, inspiration, a girl, a boy, and a dream.

Faith-based film 'A Girl. A Boy. A Dream.' recently made its grand debut at the Sundance Film Festival, with a little help from local film producer, Jash'd Belcher. As we aspire towards unity as a nation, "we need more love and things to inspire us to be our greatest," explains Belcher. This film sets out to enact just that.

Feature Story Concerts

Grand Rapids, Music City? New venues mean almost more music than beer

For nearly a decade, Grand Rapids has earned the "Beer City" designation from USA Today. With all of the new music venues and increased number and range of musical acts visiting GR, could “Music City” be in our near future?

Feature Story Design Thinking

UIX: GRPS Transformation Plan is using design thinking to incorporate stakeholder voices

GRPS stakeholders gathered at schools in the four different quadrants of the district to sound off on their concerns, talk about what they're proud of, and even what they're angry about. And the district is listening to every word with the help of design thinking.

Feature Story GRHHCTheNewConcept

Lessons from emerging culture: A quick look at three music movements and future cities

All cultures should have a value for a city, but not all have our attention…just yet. Rapid Growth's Publisher Tommy Allen looks back over time at three Michigan groups whose contributions, like so many other artists and creators, have impacted the culture of our state for the better.

Development News INcid

Corridor Improvement Authority takes on South Division, Burton, Hall, and Grandville Avenue business

City of Grand Rapids established South Division, Burton, Hall, Grandville Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority granting formal organizing authority and revenue for boosting businesses in the area. 

Innovation News Kelli Smith

Michigan Good Food Fund welcomes Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women as lending partner

As a Michigan Good Food Fund (MGFF) lender, Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW) will help more West Michigan businesses to finance their enterprises—with one uncommon requirement—the business must seek to increase access to affordable, healthy food in an income-challenged, underserved, Michigan community.

Feature Story RGWaveCard

Smart transportation: The Rapid kicks off The Wave smart card for function, ease, and equity

With smart features like online accounts, capped spending, and smartphone scanning, The Wave aims to widen access and increase ease of use to public transportation.

Feature Story ACLU Dan Ho

Do you know your voting rights?: ACLU Voting Rights Project Director talks equity and participation

Visiting West Michigan on May 16 as the keynote speaker of the ACLU Standing Together for Justice Luncheon at Frederik Meijer Gardens, Ho aims to spread a message of increased voting rights through systems reform, encouraging states like Michigan to implement modern, equitable practices that make voting simple and accessible for all.

Feature Story List

6 local (and fun!) ways to stay in shape this spring

As the weather warms, many sport and social clubs are recruiting for the summer season. If you’re looking to work up a sweat and make some new friends, these group sports and athletic clubs might be for you.

Development News carlton

Women dominate retail spaces at 1 Carlton Ave. SE

Fulton Square, a mixed-use development project at 1 Carlton Ave. SE in Eastown, recently welcomed its final retail occupant, MODRN GR. The urban home furnishing boutique joins two other woman-owned businesses, Ada Mae, women’s apparel, and E+L Salon, as well as anchor tenant, Danzon Cubano Eastown.

Innovation News INcid

Innovation Central engineering lab will accelerate careers and college

City’s SmartZone Local Development Finance Authority has agreed to grant $384,306 over a three-year period for the Innovation Central Advanced Technology Educational Initiative, which at its centerpiece includes creating a new state-of-the-art engineering lab.

Feature Story RCcarlos

RapidChat: Carlos Sanchez

Feeling energized after the recent announcement of their $150,000 grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Executive Director of the Latino Business and Economic Development Center Carlos Sanchez and his team are ready to put the foundation's 'Fund for Community Good' to good work.

Feature Story DonRhoades

The innovative people making GR a city for entrepreneurs

“Making It In Grand Rapids” is a series about local entrepreneurs and the issues that matter in building a sustainable startup-friendly community.

Feature Story FT Kick Ass Mothers Day

'Kick its ass': Memorial exhibit showcases outsider art, volunteerism at Heartside Ministries

A retrospective of the incredible milieu of outsider artists Heartside Galleries has nourished over the last decade and a half, "A Heartside Art Collector's Preview" is a celebration of rare talent, raw human experience, and the healing properties of art made without ego.

Feature Story Kids

West Michigan invites you outside: 5 #puremichigan ways to celebrate spring

Finally...spring. Throw off the shackles of winter and check to these 5 ways to enjoy West Michigan.

Feature Story May March

Marching without fear: Movimiento Cosecha GR seeks licenses for all on May Day

The annual May Day demonstration, organized by Movimiento Cosecha GR, cut through many neighborhoods on Tuesday, May 1, and marked the launch of a statewide campaign to win licenses for all so that immigrants in Michigan can “drive without fear.”

Innovation News INlead

May LEAD training targets 18 to 24 year-olds: $800 stipends for youth from "neighborhoods of focus"

City of Grand Rapids’ Leadership and Employment, Achievement and Direction (LEAD) program trains youth in civic engagement, leadership, and employment skills. Free and open to residents ages 15 to 24 and those attending college in the greater Grand Rapids area. From May 1 through 15, the first of two cohorts will target youth at the upper end of the age spectrum, ages 18 through 24.

Development News DNlongroad4

Long Road Distillers enlists new partner to distribute liquid assets

Grand Rapids-based Long Road Distillers announced that their locally crafted spirits will  be distributed exclusively by Imperial Beverage throughout the state of Michigan.

Feature Story Healthy Communities

Building Healthy Communities program aims to surround Michigan school children with healthy living

During the last nine years, more than 260 elementary schools across Michigan have participated in the Building Healthy Communities to prevent and reduce childhood obesity, prevent chronic health conditions, and improve academic achievement. Positive results are pouring in.

Feature Story easthills

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.