Chamber Blog

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 […]

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 […]

The Chamber’s Government Affairs team is working with members to continue our momentum in West Michigan with effective advocacy on the issues that matter to you most: talent, fiscal policy, regulations, health care, economic development and more. Here are some of the key highlights from the first half of 2019: 71 Government Affairs Member Assists […]

Talent– whether it’s lack of skilled labor, retention or attraction- is the number one issue facing the West Michigan business community. The Grand Rapids Chamber continues to work diligently in Lansing to address our talent crisis in two important areas: degree attainment and childcare. Governor’s Talent Initiatives: Michigan Reconnect & MI Opportunity Scholarships The Grand […]

Members of The Friends of West Michigan Business, the Grand Rapids Chamber’s Political Action Committee (PAC), are excited to be interviewing two candidates for Grand Rapids City Commission Ward 2 today. The Chamber PAC is a separate, segregated fund that is only supported by voluntary, personal contributions of Chamber members and is not supported by […]

This month’s Breakfast with Legislators included discussion of education, auto no-fault legislation, transportation, and more. Attendance included guest speaker, President Thomas Haas of Grand Valley State University and various state legislators who addressed various concerns of our members. President Haas ensured the return on investment from Michigan taxpayers’ contribution to the university. With 20,000 of […]

On May 23, the Grand Rapids Chamber held an Advocacy Engagement Series on the business case for the expansion of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The Chamber’s OutPro Council was proud to host the event in partnership with Equality Michigan. Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976 is an act to define civil rights; to […]