Session 3 Tax Base Challenges – Success in Other Communities, Taxes & Incentives May 15, 2014 Jared Rodriguez, Partner, Calder Group, LLC

 Demographics  History  Turnaround  Community – Results (1915)

 Founded 1826 | Incorporated Village 1850  Government o City Commission – City Manager – City Mayor  Population (*2012) o 190,411 – City of Grand Rapids – 124 th U.S. o 614,462 – Kent County o 1,533,608 – 13 County Region  Diverse Population  Industry Presence o Furniture, Health Care, Education, Automotive, Aerospace, Design, Construction, Agriculture, Retail, Food Service

 19 th Century – Settled by European missionaries and fur traders.  1826 – The “official founder” of Grand Rapids, Louis Campau, Detroit-born Louis Campau, established trading post and blacksmith shop. o Major lumbering center and the premier furniture manufacturing city.  Furniture Capitol of the World – “Furniture City” o Grad Rapids became recognized worldwide as a leader in the production of fine furniture. o 50+ furniture factories – 1900 o River, Roads and Railroad lines/routes developed and functional  Growth as a Midwest Manufacturing Epicenter throughout the 1900’s  Region hosts Michigan’s second largest City – Grand Rapids  Downturn – 1970’s o Closing factories o Resident out-migration (1885)

 Public-Private-Partnerships o Tax Incentives – Increase Base/Regional Activity/Community Engagement  Grand Vision – Grand Action o Non-profit organization of private & public sector leaders  Work together to identify downtown revitalization projects worthy of support and development.  Private sector philanthropy/leader driven o DeVos Place Convention Center, Van Andel Arena, Medical Mile, Meijer Majestic Theater, Urban Market, Universities  Coalitions/Partnership driven change – City & Suburban municipal planning  Economic success drives philanthropic giving/community  Economic Development and Promotion – Core City Re-Investment  Organizational alignment – Business, Non-Profit, Education, Government, Community (2008)

 Community Engagement o Laugh Fest o Art Prize o Beer City – Micro Brews o Meijer Gardens o Millennium Park o Museums  Festivals o Summer Fest o Tulip Time Festival o Heritage  Challenges o Talent o Growth Mgmt.

Session 3 Tax Base Challenges – Success in Other Communities, Taxes & Incentives May 15, 2014 Jared Rodriguez, Partner, Calder Group, LLC