Grand Rapids Online

Celebration on the Grand

hanlin99 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:21:10 +0000

On a lighter note, if you’re planning a trip to West Michigan, why not plan it at the end of the summer, and help us close out the season with Celebration on the Grand? Celebration is a festival held in downtown Grand Rapids to showcase the high quality of life and great community that we enjoy in the Grand River Valley.

It has been held for over 25 years, and is known for its great food and great music. There’s never a shortage of local bands and some big headliners to show up for a good time. And don’t forget our incredible local breweries that are happy to keep the beer tents flowing.

Looking Ahead to Tomorrow

hanlin99 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:20:30 +0000

What’s the future of Grand Rapids? It’s hard to say. The Michigan economy is in the dumps right now, largely the result of many of the larger companies in the state shutting down and moving out to states with lower business taxes and a friendlier state government.

The big push in Michigan right now is alternative energy. Our all-knowing do-nothing governor seems to think that’s going to be the ticket that propels Michigan into the forefront of alternative energy economy in the next 10 years. As I said before, Grand Rapids is betting on medical training, facilities, and employment. And so far, with a few of our more powerful benefactors at the helm, we’re doing pretty well.

Grand Rapids Today and Tomorrow

hanlin99 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:19:46 +0000

Currently, Grand Rapids is on a health sciences kick and is trying to draw medical-related business and schools to the area. This has resulted in many substantial private grants to open up independent research centers or open new schools at the local universities to promote the growth of the industry. This activity has resulted in a large core of medical specialties in the downtown area, affectionately known as the medical mile.

The creation of the DeVos Place Convention Center in the downtown area has resulted in the draw of many large regional and national conventions and conferences that have been excellent for the local economy.

Furniture City and Beyond

hanlin99 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:18:58 +0000

In the late 1800′s, Grand Rapids became known as Furniture City due both to the large local lumbering operation and its reputation as a producer of fine furniture. It was this industry that drove Grand Rapids to house the first hydro-electric generator in the nation to power some of its furniture factories. One of many Grand Rapids’ firsts.

While the furniture industry and reputation have certainly changed, Grand Rapids is still known internationally as a world leader in office furniture as home to companies such as Steelcase and Herman Miller. These companies design, produce, and distribute office furniture all over the world, to all types of businesses.

The History of Grand Rapids

hanlin99 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:18:02 +0000

Grand Rapids was first settled by Europeans in the early 1800′s. It was little more than a fur trading outpost for almost 25 years, after which it was settled by Isaac McCoy. Soon after, Louis Campau and family moved from Detroit to Grand Rapids, and took up permanent residence there. The Campau family is recognized as the founding family of Grand Rapids, and the first permanent residents.

In fact, in 1831 Campau bought what is today the entire downtown area of Grand Rapids from the federal government for the princely sum of $90, and name it, of course, Grand Rapids.