Rapid Growth

Rapid Growth is a publication of Issue Media Group. We receive support from local businesses, organizations, nonprofits, and foundations through underwriting partnerships. This funding helps us enhance our coverage of topics such as job growth, economic development, real estate, nonprofit innovation, urban development, and community building.

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Forecasting the future: Keith Brophy on 20 years of Tech Trends and the human side of AI

2 days ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Tommy Allen

For the past 20 years, West Michigan Tech Trends has been both a reflection and a driving force behind the region's evolving relationship with technology. Since it began in 1999 as a small gathering hosted by the SBDC, it has grown into a signature annual event, now run by West Michigan Tech Talent, drawing tech enthusiasts, business leaders, educators, and curious minds to explore the fast-paced world of innovation.
Hispanic Center expands Lakeshore reach through Tri-Cities Puentes acquisition

1 week ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Shandra Martinez

What’s going on: The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan (HCWM) has acquired the Tri-Cities Puentes Initiative (TCPI), an organization that has been serving Hispanic communities in Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Ferrysburg. This move strengthens the support network for Hispanic families along the Lakeshore and builds on HCWM’s long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion.
Adapting outdoor recreation in West Michigan amidst shifting seasons and climate change

1 week ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Tommy Allen

West Michigan’s recreational environment is undergoing a significant shift due to climate change, characterized by milder winters and increasingly unpredictable seasons. The U.S. Department of Agriculture officially changed the region’s climate classification from Zone 5 to Zone 6A in November 2023, underscoring the extensive regional effects of climate change on winter activities in West Michigan.
Blueprint for school funding would ensure equitable resources in special education

1 week ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Estelle Slootmaker

Through years of advocacy and support for autistic individuals and their families, the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) has made education a main focus. After seeing firsthand the inequities in educational services for students with disabilities and the frustration families face when those services fall short, AAoM's team of education and policy experts decided to take action.
Dental aid helps cancer patients regain health and dignity

1 week ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Shandra Martinez

This story is part of a series on the challenges and solutions related to oral health in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. It is made possible with funding support from the Delta Dental Foundation. When Peggy Lee’s 80-year-old mother, Judith “Judy” Logan, was diagnosed with oral cancer, their family wasn’t prepared for the financial and emotional toll that would follow.
Strengthening our local arts organizations: The DeVos Institute’s capacity-building initiative in Gr

3 weeks ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Tommy Allen

Five months into its transformative two-year journey, the DeVos Institute for Arts and Nonprofit Management’s Capacity Building: Grand Rapids program is driving change in the local arts and nonprofit sectors. With the enthusiastic support of Dick and Betsy DeVos, this program is assisting 14 Grand Rapids arts organizations in enhancing their strategic planning, strengthening sustainability, and developing impactful, enduring community programs.
Students preserve stories of Vietnam War survivors

3 weeks ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Tommy Allen

Fifty years after the Fall of Saigon, a group of students at East Kentwood High School is helping to preserve the stories of their families’ harrowing journeys from Vietnam to the United States. Through a collaboration with the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the Vietnamese American Community of West Michigan, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, these students are documenting oral histories that reflect not only personal resilience but also the legacy of this country's refugee policy.
Dwelling Place workers, residents reflect on 45 years of impactful moments

4 weeks ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Shandra Martinez

For 45 years, Dwelling Place has been a source of stability and transformation in Grand Rapids’ Heartside neighborhood. The nonprofit, which develops and manages affordable housing, is marking this milestone by sharing the powerful, personal moments that define its impact, not only for the residents it serves, but also for the people who serve them. From property managers to coordinators to residents, every team member at Dwelling Place has a story to tell moments where mission met meaning.
Advocates rally to protect seniors from Medicaid cuts

4 weeks ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Shandra Martinez

A proposed federal Medicaid cuts could dismantle the lifeline that thousands of low-income Michigan seniors rely on to remain at home and out of institutions. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly — better known as PACE — provides comprehensive medical and social services to individuals 55 and older who are eligible for nursing home-level care but prefer to remain in their communities.
KDL expands summer services with free meals, pantry access

1 month ago | rapidgrowthmedia.com | Shandra Martinez

For thousands of families across West Michigan, summer at the library means more than borrowing books. It’s also a guarantee of a free, nutritious meal, no questions asked. Kent District Library (KDL) is preparing for another season of participation in Gather 2 Grow summer food program, a program by Feeding America West Michigan that provides shelf-stable meals to children when school is out of session. This year’s program runs from June 2 to Aug.