Chamber Blog

Last year, the Grand Rapids Chamber and other business groups from across the state, were successful in convincing lawmakers to pull the paid sick leave employer mandate from the statewide election ballot by adopting the proposals. This preserved the ability of the legislature to amend the adopted laws by a simple majority vote and approval […]

TRIP, a national transportation research group based in Washington, DC, released their report on the state of Michigan’s roads, “Modernizing Michigan’s Transportation System: Progress and Challenges in Providing Safe, Efficient and Well-Maintained Roads, Highways and Bridges.” According to the report, while Michigan roads are recovering, the rate of recovery could be slowed if Michigan is […]

Governor Whitmer presented her first budget proposal to the legislature on March 5, addressing roads, talent, and business taxes. The Chamber looks forward to adding a West Michigan business voice to discussions with the Administration and the Legislature to find a solution that promotes a prosperous Michigan for all. Check out the highlights of Governor […]

The Grand Rapids Chamber was honored to host Governor Whitmer this afternoon for a dialogue with our members on the budget she presented to the Legislature yesterday. At the Chamber, our top priorities are fixing infrastructure, closing the talent gap and cultivating a vibrant business climate. We applaud Governor Whitmer for presenting a bold budget […]

On Monday evening, February 25, Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss delivered an optimistic State of the City address. Following a preamble from new City Manager Mark Washington, Mayor Bliss highlighted the accomplishments of 2018 while also noting the challenges the city and community will work to address in 2019. Topics ranged from police-community relations to […]

Last week, Alexa Kramer and Chamber member Steve Heethuis, Training Director at NN Mobile Solutions, testified before the House Education Committee in opposition to House Bill 4162. This bill eliminates the requirement for Michigan’s Department of Education to administer the ACT WorkKeys assessment, a credential that employers utilize to match skills to workplace demands. NN […]

This week was our first Breakfast with Legislators of 2019 where our West Michigan legislators were asked everything from talent to Paid Sick Leave. The Governor’s State of the State address was a topic of discussion, and legislators were asked questions on both her programs that seek to close the talent gap and how to […]

Alex Peric, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, presented on the airport real estate and economic development. After a year of record growth in 2018, GRR is predicting continued growth into 2019 and beyond. To accommodate future growth, they plan to have $400M+ infrastructure investment by 2030. The […]