Economic Development Corporation

Department in Charge of This Board

Economic Development

About the Board

We help bring new businesses to Grand Rapids. We also help Grand Rapids businesses expand. Here's a look at what we do to meet our goals:

  • Assist enterprises in locating or expanding in the City of Grand Rapids
  • Establish project areas
  • Provide financing and other assistance for industrial projects and some non-profit projects
  • Help prevent and address unemployment
  • Help to strengthen the City and State economy

Meeting Agendas and Minutes

We use a third party system for meeting agendas and minutes.

Leave the City site to see Economic Development Corporation agendas and minutes

Apply for Boards and Commissions

  • 9 members
  • Members need to be business-oriented with the ability to analyze economic development projects
  • 2 directors for each proposed project
  • This board also serves as the Board of Brownfield Redevelopment Finance Authority (BRFA)
  • Members are appointed by the Mayor with City Commission approval on the first Monday in January.

Residency Requirement

You don't have to be a Grand Rapids resident to serve on this board.

Term Limit Policy

Each term is 6 years. There is a term limit.

Compensation

This is a volunteer board. Members are not paid.

Kristine Bersche

Mayoral Appointment
Ward 2 Resident
Term Ends: 1/1/2024

Troy Butler

Mayoral Appointment
Non-Resident
Term Ends: 1/6/2020

Guillermo Cisneros

Mayoral Appointment
Non-Resident
Term Ends: 1/1/2024

Michael DeVries

Mayoral Appointment
Ward 2 Resident
Term Ends: 1/6/2020

Kimberly McLaughlin

Mayoral Appointment
Non-Resident
Term Ends: 1/1/2024

Nathaniel Moody

Mayoral Appointment
Ward 3 Commissioner
Term Ends: 1/1/2024

Lynn Rabaut

Mayoral Appointment
Ward 2 Resident
Term Ends: 1/4/2021

Brian Smits

Mayoral Appointment
Non-Resident
Term Ends: 1/6/2020

Joshua Verhulst

Mayoral Appointment
Ward 1 Resident
Term Ends: 1/1/2024

Stanley Wisinski

Mayoral Appointment
Non-Resident
Term Ends: 1/3/2022

City Staff Contact

Board Liaison

Kara Wood

Economic Development Director

616-456-3196

Meeting Details

We keep a schedule of all meetings for the current year.

We keep a separate schedule for the Economic Development Corporation.

 Download Annual Meeting Schedule

We keep separate schedule for the Economic Development Project Team meetings.

Download Annual Meeting Schedule

We keep a schedule of all meeting cancellations and/or changes.

Download Meeting Cancellation Notice

 

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