Volunteers in Kent County are making a last minute push to get out the vote Tuesday. They’ll be knocking on doors and making phone calls running up to Tuesday’s election.
Voters will decide on a county-wide millage increase to renovate outdated buildings at Grand Rapids Community College.
The millage would pay for basic improvements to almost every building on campus.
A community organizer in Grand Rapids is trying to improve neighborhoods to keep young people from moving out of the state.
“Neighborhoods are sellable. Young people have a hard time right now staying in Michigan because they feel that there’s not the same cultural aspects or the opportunities for growth like in bigger cities,” Johannah Jelks said.
24-year-old Jelks started the grassroots group “Generation X & Y for MI” a few years ago as her peers were moving out of Michigan. “But actually if you look on a micro-scale neighborhoods have been attracting young talent at a rapid rate,” Jelks said.
The head of Michigan’s largest contemporary arts center has stepped down as part of a plan to stabilize the museum’s finances. The Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids is also cutting its hours.
The UICA’s board of directors voted on the restructuring plan this week to try to stabilize what they call a “declining financial situation”. But the board will not discuss details of the budget or the restructuring plan publicly.
Board President Kathryn Chaplow says the board has reached out to a small group of “major donors” to help with some immediate funding.
“It’s very rare for people to go through something like this. But with the way people step up its just overwhelming and its humbling. The UICA isn’t going anywhere,” Chaplow said.
The UICA’s executive director Jeff Meeuwsen has agreed to step down as part of the plan. He will stay on as a temporary consultant for up to 90 days.
Chaplow says she hopes the cut in hours will be temporary. And she says the board will be seeking a new director.
A former General Motors plant in a Grand Rapids suburb is getting new life and a new identity.
The 2 million square foot stamping plant in Wyoming, Michigan was the first manufacturing plant sold after GM’s bailout. The more than 75 year old plant is almost completely demolished now. The plant was once the city of Wyoming’s largest taxpayer and employer.
Now it’s been rebranded as “Site 36”. (It’s located on 36th street in Wyoming.)
“We cannot go to a customer, a company, a site consultant and say ‘well we’ve got a former General Motors site.’ Okay? That brings with it a certain image,” said Birgit Klohs, President and CEO of The Right Place. It’s an economic development group based in Grand Rapids that’s helping market the site to international companies.
Klohs says rebranding the site is important for the people who live here too. “We’re done grieving. We need to come up with the next strategy and rebranding to us was a key issue for us in saying it’s time for the 21st century,” Klohs said.
Former Governor John Engler (right) greets Governor Rick Snyder during his inauguration in 2011. Engler credit Snyder with improving Michigan tax code for businesses.
Former Michigan Governor John Engler says politicians in Washington need to make important decisions now, despite the general election coming in November.
Engler is now President of Business Roundtable, a national association of CEOs.
He says politicians have a lot of tough decisions to make to keep the U.S. competitive globally. That includes decisions on energy and education; but most importantly, he says, decisions about the tax code and the federal deficit. Engler says those decisions need to made as quickly as possible.
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