The Business of the Grand Rapids City Government is Business: The 2023 Budget Priorities

US President Calvin Coolidge believed that the country’s well-being was best preserved by allowing business to create wealth. His most famous remark was in a speech that he delivered in 1925, in which he stated: “The business of America is business.”

Coolidge presided over a period when taxes and government spending were lowered. The President resisted appeals from Veterans for bonus payments. He vetoed the Soldiers’ Bonus and he was extremely antagonistic to the growing Labor Movement.

Based on the proposed 2023 Grand Rapids City Budget, it would seem that the Business of the Grand Rapids City Commission is business. According to a May 11th announcement from the City of Grand Rapids, the commissioners have already approved at total of $37,884,818 for several economic development committees, committees that are primarily stacked from members of the Business Class. (See Below) It should also be mentioned that these people are not elected, rather they are appointed by members of the Grand Rapids City Commission.

This $37,884,818 of public funding for business interests includes (see breakdown for each of the 12 areas)

• Business Development
• Business District Marketing
• Facade Improvement
• Business District Design
• Business Sponsorships
• Grand River Governance Planning – which is primarily designed to attract tourists and consumers
• Trade Shows
• Real estate development programs
• Infrastructure improvements – which primarily attracts tourists and consumers
• Major capital improvements to Downtown public spaces such as Lyon Square and the Van Andel Arena alley

These twelve groups, which are using nearly $39 million in public money, have a total of 96 current Board members. Of those 96 there are:

• 18 Current or former Government Officials
• 6 Non-Profit representatives
• 8 Educational Institutions
• 4 retired or without status
• 60 Business representatives

Now, if we are talking about how much the City of Grand Rapids has committed to things like Affordable Housing, Anti-Racism Work, or other critical social justice issues, the comparison to business interests is stark. 

• We know that the City of Grand Rapids made a deposit of $957,365 for the Affordable Housing Fund in December of 2021. 
• According to a document on Community Collaboration on Climate Change, this project is projecting to commit $900,000 over a three year period.
• Anti-Violence funding – the City of Grand Rapids is only a fiduciary for the Cure Violence Program, offering only resources and information.
• Last year, the City of Grand Rapids received $600,000 to advance racial equity in city operations
• Neighborhood Match Fund, which provides funding for neighborhood improvement, particularly around more progressive projects – estimate $100,000 per year

Even with these 5 critical issue areas, the City of Grand Rapids has committed no more than $2.7 Million, and some of that funding is for a three year period. Therefore, the City of Grand Rapids has committed roughly $2 Million for Affordable Housing, anti-racism work, Climate Change, anti-violence and resident-led Neighborhood projects, while the Business-led investment and development projects will be using nearly $39 Million of public money. Of course, this doesn’t even include the roughly $60 Million for policing, which demonstrates the issues that are prioritized by Grand Rapids City officials. 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the Brownfield Development Authority is $15,507,194

BDA Board of Directors

Guillermo Cisneros – West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Lynn Rabaut – retired

Kristine Bersche – Natura Architectural Consulting LLC

Troy Butler – Thacker Sleight

Nathaniel Moody – City Commissioner

Dan Barcheski – Chairman of Axios HR

Kim McLaughlin – Wolverine Building Group

Micah Perkins – Retirement Services Officer US Army

John VanFossen – Meijer

Joshua Verhulst – Tech Defenders

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the Downtown Development Authority DDA  is $16,240,851

Board of Directors

Richard Winn – AHC Hospitality (DeVos-owned)

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss

Luis Avila – Varnum Law

Kayem Dunn – Consultant

Jermale Eddie – Malamiah Juice Bar

Greg McNeilly – Windquest Group (DeVos-owned)

Jim Talen – former Kent County Commissioner

Diana Sieger – Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Jen Schottke – ABC Western Michigan

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the SmartZone Local Finance Development Authority is $2,374,546.

SmartZone LFDA Board of Directors

Hal Ostrow – Lawyer, Rhoades McKee

Al Vandeberg – Kent County Administrator

Keith Brophy – Emergent Holdings Inc.

Gerald Callahan – Van Andel Institute

Lisa Freiburger – GRCC

Kristian Grant – GRPS

John Helmholt – GRPS

Mark Washington – City Manager

Jerry Kooiman – MSU

Randy Thelen – The Right Place Inc 

Fred Molnar – Michigan Economic Development Corporation

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the Economic Development Corporation is $120,296.

Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors is the same as the Brownfield Development Authority.

Guillermo Cisneros – West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Lynn Rabaut – retired

Kristine Bersche – Natura Architectural Consulting LLC

Troy Butler – Thacker Sleight

Nathaniel Moody – City Commissioner

Kim McLaughlin – Wolverine Building Group

Micah Perkins – Retirement Services Officer US Army

John VanFossen – Meijer

Joshua Verhulst – Tech Defenders

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority is $647,858 

Southtown CIA Board of Directors

Johnathan Farman – JF Consulting

Kristian Grant – GRPS

Helen Harp – Owner Joy Radio

Senita Lenear – City Commissioner

Eric Williams – United Methodist Community House

Nathaniel Moody – City Commissioner

Ruben Ramos – R&R MECHANICAL SERVICES LLC

Darel Ross – Start Garden and Owner Forty Acres Soul Kitchen

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the Westside Corridor Improvement Authority is $290,000

Westside CIA Board of Directors

Brent Gibson – Construction Simplified

Johnny Brann Jr. – Brann’s Restaurant

Daniel Grinwis – Oasis of Hope Center

Lisa Haynes – GVSU

Aaron Jenks – Paradigm Design 

Jon O’Connor – City Commissioner/Owner of Long Road Distillers

Dave Shaffer – CEO Interphase Interiors

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the Uptown Corridor Improvement Authority is $133,505

Uptown CIA Board of Directors

Lynn Happel – owner of Veterinary Clinic

Stephanie Johnson – Urban Exchange LLC

Nathaniel Moody – City Commissioner

Matthew Smith – Open Systems Technologies Inc

Mark Stoddard

Tamara Sytsma – System Wealth Strategies

Peter Jacob – Kind Creative

Joana Hively – Owner Global Infusion

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the Uptown Business Improvement District is $133,505

Uptown BID Board of Directors

Lynn Happel – Owner Eastown Veterinary Clinic

Stephanie Johnson – Urban Exchange LLC

Nathaniel Moody – City Commissioner

Matthew Smith – Open Systems Technologies Inc

Tamara Sytsma – System Wealth Strategies

Peter Vanderwier

Ted Lott – Lott3Metz Architecture

Jaye Van Lenten – Co-owner of Spirit Dreams

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the Michigan Street Corridor Improvement Authority is $397,500

Michigan Street CIA Board of Directors

Max Benedict – Third Coast Development

Kevin Brant – Developer

Joe Jones – City Commissioner

Thomas Dann – Real Estate Agent

Alexander Lamkin

Jeff Lobdell – Restaurant Partners Inc.

Christopher Swank – GVSU

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the South Division/Grandville Corridor Improvement Authority is $218,000.

South Division/Grandville CIA Board of Directors

Amy Brower – Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association

Fran Dalton – Garfield Park Neighborhood Association

Mary Dengerink – Green Leaf Consulting

Synia Jordan – Real Estate Agent

Kurt Reppart – City Commissioner

Leonard Van Drunen – Calvin University

Angelica Velasquez – owner of La Casa de la Cobija

Marcel Price – Executive Director of The Diatribe

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the North Quarter Corridor Improvement Authority is $106,467.

North Quarter CIA Board of Directors

Hannah Berry – Lions and Rabbits Center for the Arts

Kim Bode – Owner and founder of 8THIRTYFOUR

Duane Culver – Culver CPA Group

Brianna Forbes – Urban Massage

Alan Hartline – President Kingma’s Market

Milinda Ysasi – City Commissioner

 

The proposed 2023 Budget for the Monroe North Tax Incremental Finance Authority is $1,390,901

Monroe North Tax Incremental Finance Authority Board of Directors

Rosalynn Bliss – Mayor of Grand Rapids

James Baldwin – West Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association 

Diedre Deering – Literacy Center of West Michigan

Jim Talen – former County Commissioner

Richard Winn – AHC Hospitality (DeVos-owned)