What does it take for Grand Rapids to become the best midsized city in the country?
The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce believes it starts with business leaders and stakeholders getting more involved on a local level to tackle big issues such as public safety, housing, transformational projects and more. The Grand Rapids Policy Conference, which will be held Aug. 16, is the first step toward that goal.
While traditionally, the chamber’s work has been heavily centered on state policy, increasingly, it is focusing more on the importance of local government advocacy — and how much of an impact decisions made here at home can have on chamber members and West Michigan as a whole.
Andy Johnston, the chamber’s senior vice president and program manager for the event, is optimistic and enthusiastic about what can be achieved through conversation, collaboration and mobilization.
“When we talk about becoming the best midsized city in the country, we don’t necessarily want to be the next Austin, Indianapolis or Raleigh. We want to be the next, better version of Grand Rapids,” Johnston said. “We really think that Grand Rapids is unique, and we have a distinct value proposition. At the conference, we want to discuss what that is and the issues we need to take on as a community to realize that vision.”
If you’re a business leader frustrated by housing challenges in the region, concerned about public safety, interested in how American Rescue Plan dollars can be spent or adversely affected by policy decisions, the Grand Rapids Policy Conference is for you.
In addition to being a meaningful way to take on key local issues, it’s also a chance to network with other area leaders and create connections with members of the local government. This conference will provide a platform to hear from experts about the challenges and opportunities West Michigan currently or will soon face and where the business community can take action to move the region forward.
“I used to work in the legislature in Lansing, and I can tell you the most effective advocates are those people who are in the trenches every day running up against policy decisions or problems and then communicating those to their legislators,” Johnston said. “We want to use this conference to talk with local elected policymakers and stakeholders about the issues we’re hearing from our business community to see if we can address them and create a West Michigan that works for everyone.”
Among the speakers will be Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, Police Chief Eric Winstrom, City Manager Mark Washington and a number of other prominent area experts. The event will be a mix of presentations, table discussions, audience Q&As and ad hoc opportunities to tap into a wide range of attendee insights. There also will be a post-event reception with new area CEOs, including Kara Wood, executive director of Grand Action, and Rich Sorota, CEO of Miller Johnson.
“Our community works best when the private and public sectors are communicating with one another,” Johnston said. “We need to talk about what will create a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and foster vibrant business environments. While West Michigan is clearly a bright spot in the state, we can’t rest on our laurels. We need to continue that momentum and face difficult issues, and this event is the opportunity to do that.”
The Grand Rapids Policy Conference takes place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the JW Marriott, 235 Louis St. NW in downtown Grand Rapids. Visit grandrapids.org to learn more and register.