Chamber Blog

Mark Washington hit the ground running as Grand Rapids City Manager last October, and has had a busy first year on the job! In addition to tackling the various challenges facing the city, he’s also been working hard to get to know the local businesses. City Manager Washington has been hitting the town with Chamber […]

In honor of Veteran’s Day coming up in November, we would like to highlight Chamber team member Joshua Lunger, who is one of the millions who have made a difference for our country. Josh served in the U.S. Army from 2005-2008. He was a veteran squad leader of the 82nd Airborne Division, which took him […]

Last year, after 10 years of the annual art competition, ArtPrize shifted to a biennial format, making way for its new “Project” series. During these project years, ArtPrize works with commissioned artists on large-scale installations. By providing funding and resources on the front end, ArtPrize is able to carefully select artists and collaborate more closely […]

Autumn lovers, rejoice! The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler, and the leaves are starting to change – which means fall is officially upon us! When you’re not cozying up inside with hot cider and scary movies, there are plenty of fun activities to help you make the most of what is […]

Broadway Grand Rapids has an exciting 2019-2020 season lined up, with the wildly popular Hamilton coming in January. However, perhaps most exciting this season is Disney’s The Lion King, which is coming to DeVos Performance Hall for the first time ever from November 20th to December 1st, 2019. Disney’s The Lion King is one of […]

To:                   The Michigan Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration From:              Grand Rapids Chamber Subject:           Jail & Pretrial Incarceration Reforms Necessary for Business, Workforce Development Date:                September 2019   Crime rates are the lowest Michigan has seen in more than 50 years, and yet our jail population has tripled. Historically low crime presents […]

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 […]