Chamber Blog

The “Dog Days” of summer are upon us! (Did you know? The hot, sultry days got their nickname because they coincide with the dawn rising of Sirius, the Dog Star.) If there’s one thing the Chamber team loves, it’s our canine companions. In honor of the Dog Days, we’re highlighting some Chamber members who can […]

Once upon a time, women didn’t have the right to vote or drive… Today, after years of fiercely fighting for women’s rights, individuals are still challenging, inspiring and innovating their communities every day to be a strong force for change. At the 30th Annual ATHENA Awards Celebration, we will gather to celebrate these individuals. The […]

Leadership Grand Rapids (LGR) is designed to be unlike any other leadership program, where instead of analyzing leadership tactics and principles, participants are asked to use a systems thinking approach to tackle real issues facing our community. This approach to the programming is meant to foster community trustees who will leave the class with a […]

In February of 2018, former Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas announced his coming retirement, and the search for the university’s fifth president began. Months later, it was announced that Dr. Philomena Mantella, former Vice President & CEO of Northeastern University’s Lifelong Learning Network, would take up the mantle as President. As a first-generation […]

Many people will tell you they could be better than [insert politician’s name], but actually running to become a politician isn’t quite as easy. Running for local or state office is a big decision and it can be difficult to know where to begin exploring. Turning your passion for public service into a winning campaign […]

With every passing year, America grows more diverse. In fact, more than 67% of job applicants and 57% of employees expressed that they value diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It’s no wonder, too, because diverse companies perform better. When our workforce doesn’t reflect our population’s ever-growing diversity, it’s not only a moral issue, but […]

Earlier this year, Governor Whitmer introduced two statewide talent initiatives. These initiatives support a goal of raising Michigan’s post-secondary attainment from 44% to 60% by 2030. Michigan Reconnect: aimed towards workers over 25 years old, with little to no college, seeking to up-skill themselves through obtaining a degree or certificate MI Opportunity Scholarships: focused on the “traditional” […]

Friends of West Michigan Business, the Grand Rapids Chamber’s Political Action Committee (PAC), announced its candidate endorsements for the Mayor of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids City Commission. The Chamber PAC works to elect highly qualified candidates and is funded only by the voluntary personal contributions of its individual members. The endorsements were decided by […]