New American Economy and Welcoming America recently awarded the City of Grand Rapids with a matching $12,500 grant to create a welcoming task force dedicated to researching the best ways to support new Americans in our community.

"I guess for romantic purposes you could say it was always within me," mentions Zachary Pisciotta, Former Executive Chef of Reserve Wine & Food, when asked about how he became a chef. Now serving as Harvest Manager and resident farm-dinner coordinator at Green Wagon Farm, Zach is experiencing the "Farm-to-Table" phenomenon from both ends of the spectrum.

Después de haber experimentado personalmente los desafíos para encontrar un buen empleo y hace los necesarios contactos cuando se mudó a Grand Rapids hace 10 años, director ejecutivo de la Cámara de Comercio Hispana del Oeste de Michigan, Guillermo Cisneros ahora está apoyando organizaciones en West Michigan para ayudar a educar y empoderar a la comunidad empresarial latinx.

Some Michigan early childhood centers teach children the value of fresh food through hands-on gardening. From hoophouse to garden bed, these centers are planting the seeds of healthy eating for kids and their families.

Diamond Place includes 165 one-and two-bedroom apartments. The combination of income-restricted housing and its ground-floor grocery store resulted in Michigan Good Food Fund funding for the project. 

2019 brings an entirely new batch of restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and tasting rooms to douse your pallet with new flavors and your Instagram with new pics. Here’s where you’ll be eating in Grand Rapids this year.

The Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. Western Michigan Chapter (ABC WMC) presented its 2019 Construction Economic Forecast events on Tuesday, December 4. ABC’s national chief economist, Anirban Basu, spoke to more than 400 commercial construction professionals and community stakeholders in Kalamazoo and Hudsonville.

Though it is not typical to see both the elderly and infants engaging with one another, intergenerational programs have found a way to bring them together and add value for both sides. Three local programs and a participant share their insights on the value of these programs and the positive impact they can have.