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Community Updates: Friday, October 13

New Community Transformation Fund receives $100,000 from the City of Grand Rapids; upcoming public meetings in the City of Grand Rapids and Kent County; and more

New Community Transformation Fund receives $100,000 from the City of Grand Rapids

On Tuesday, the City of Grand Rapids announced that it made "a $100,000 investment" in New Community Transformation Fund (NCTF).

New Community Transformation Fund was launched in 2020. According to Tuesday's press release, NCTF is "a Grand Rapids-based venture fund aimed at boosting businesses owned by people of color in West Michigan." While this investment from the City of Grand Rapids is the first time that NCTF has received an investment from a "government agency," it has previously received investments from other organizations including the Steelcase Foundation, the Frey Foundation, the Wege Foundation and ITC Holdings Corp

The City has stated that this investment "is an important step for increasing economic prosperity for entrepreneurs of color aligned with the City's Strategic Plan and Equitable Economic Development and Mobility Strategic Plan." According to City Manager Mark Washington:

"This investment is aligned with the City's strategy of supporting entrepreneurship and creates access to investment opportunities for historically marginalized communities, including communities of color. This investment also is aligned with the City's values of collaboration, innovation, and equity to help remove barriers created by systematic and institutional injustice."

For more information, visit the City's website. To learn more about New Community Transformation Fund, click here.

 

Upcoming public meetings in the City of Grand Rapids and Kent County

There are 6 public meetings scheduled for the City of Grand Rapids and Kent County next week. A list can be found below:

Body Agency Date Time
Executive Committee Kent County 10/17/23 7:30 a.m.
Finance and Physical Resources Committee Kent County 10/17/23 8:30 a.m.
Pension Board Kent County 10/18/23 8:15 a.m.
Michigan St. Corridor Improvement Authority City of Grand Rapids 10/18/23 3:30 p.m.
Board of Zoning Appeals City of Grand Rapids 10/19/23 1:00 p.m.
North Quarter Corridor Improvement Authority City of Grand Rapids 10/19/23 4:00 p.m.

These meetings are subject to change by the City of Grand Rapids and Kent County -- including cancellation. 

More information can be found on the City of Grand Rapids's and Kent County's websites. 

 

Also in the News:

  • Odd-even parking begins on Nov. 1. For more information, visit the City's website

 

 

 

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