DEMOGRAPHICS / ECONOMY

Accolades for Grand Rapids
*The Anderson Economic Group’s national study determined that Grand Rapids offers the best overall business climate
*Grand Rapids ranked #1 in highest manufacturing employment market share in a study by Demographics Daily
*Inc. magazine ranked Grand Rapids number 13 in “Best Cities to Start and Grow a Company
*Places Rated Almanac ranks West Michigan third for fun and recreation
*Grand Rapids consistently ranks in the top 30 out of 315 metropolitan communities in Industry Weeks’ annual survey of World Class Communities

Life Sciences Corridor
While plastics, metals, and chemicals are the region’s strongest manufacturing clusters, this area is emerging as an internationally recognized research center. Greater Grand Rapids serves as the western anchor of the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor, a billion-dollar statewide initiative linking universities, research institutes, and private industry. The corridor stretches from Grand Rapids in the west to Ann Arbor in the east, encompassing facilities and researchers from Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI). Closer to home, it includes Grand Valley State University’s $60 million Center for Health Professions, Grand Rapids Community College’s $30 million Calkins Science Center, Calvin College life sciences research center, the Grand Rapids Medical Education & Research Center, and the Wege Institute for Mind, Body & Spirit.