2023
ANNUAL REPORT
Letter from the Chair & CEO
As we reflect on the past year here at The Right Place, our team, investors, and partners have many successes to celebrate. Most notably, we hit a major organizational milestone: The creation of over 50,000 jobs in our region since our founding in 1985. This equates to one in ten jobs across the region being directly connected to our work and represents tens of thousands of families whose quality of life has been improved. As we continue working to create more opportunities for all in the region, our team remains focused on three key pillars: People, Place, and Prosperity.
This year our People team worked with hundreds of companies across the region to discuss recruitment and retention strategies, company culture, and other common talent issues. Through our Talent Pathways Program, local manufacturing and tech employees advanced their careers through skill development and earned 348 credentials. Collaborating with Vibrant Futures on a local childcare initiative, we addressed common barriers to childcare, working to find a solution to enable more individuals to participate in the workforce. Our strategic talent partner, Hello West Michigan, also hosted several successful events designed to retain talent in the region, including Intern Connect and the Rapid Roots program.
Our Place initiatives also made significant strides in 2023. We were awarded more than $6 million in regional placemaking grants that will support 17 projects across 9 counties. Our 2nd annual Developer Day event attracted developers from across the state and beyond, showcasing available sites in our region. And Factory Yards secured a Transformational Brownfield – a historic achievement for the West side of the state, marking progress in revitalizing a long-idled building in the Godfrey neighborhood.
Our Prosperity team also had a historic year, meeting with a record 600+ area companies and offering them customized business support and connections. Our marquee event, Tech Week Grand Rapids, more than quadrupled in size to welcome 13,000+ visitors in its second year. Its growth is a testament to our community’s commitment to achieving the goals set forth in the 10-year tech strategy. Additionally, our team won 26 business retention, expansion, and attraction projects across the region that will bring 1,393 jobs and $453M investment to our community.
These highlights represent just a few key achievements from each pillar of People, Place, and Prosperity. Our work in 2023 was vast and multifaceted, impacting our region in numerous positive ways. Thank you for your partnership and support as we continue to drive sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity in our region.
Tina Freese Decker
2023 Chair, The Right Place, Inc.
President & CEO
Corewell Health
Randy Thelen
President & CEO
The Right Place, Inc.
2023 Results
$453M
New Capital Investment
1,393
New and
Retained Jobs
$25.02
Average Wages
$112.9M
Community Development Investment
PEOPLE
MiTalent 360
Our talent team partnered with TalentFirst, Lakeshore Advantage, Greater Muskegon Economic Development, and MEDC to launch the pilot of our new tool, MiTalent360. This assessment is designed to help employers evaluate their employer brand, recruitment, and retention efforts. In 2023, we launched the pilot with 26 companies spanning more than six industries across five counties.
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Code, Culture, & Coffee
In 2023, the talent team partnered with West Michigan Tech Talent to host their first Code, Culture, and Coffee event during Tech Week Grand Rapids. The event brought together a diverse collection of some of our best and brightest tech leaders for them to share details about their journeys into tech and the amazing things they do at their organizations
Talent Pathways Program
This year we secured $540,000 in grant funding to launch the Talent Pathways Program. This pilot program was designed to help local manufacturing and tech employees gain the skills and industry credentials needed to advance their careers. Ultimately, 348 credentials were earned by local talent this year via the program.
Intern Connect
Hello West Michigan hosted the 10th annual West Michigan Intern Connect event with record-breaking numbers! Over 700 interns filled a professional development conference covering topics like creating your own unique career path, personal finances & budgeting, and real talk on adulting. The 700+ interns represented over 55 area employers and over 100 colleges and universities around the country.
Say Hello Initiative
Hello West Michigan introduced the Say Hello Initiative, which has had a transformative impact throughout 2023. The initiative has resulted in increased outreach, engagement, and talent acquisition. Notably, in July, there was a 3x surge in the number of candidates included in the Weekly Resume Pack, compared to the earlier part of the year, and in September, this increase jumped to 5x. These successes are expected to drive higher attendance at future events.
PLACE
Developer Day
This year’s event hosted over 200 developers, construction professionals, architects, engineers, finance professionals, and many others involved in the development cycle. Attendees participated in tours of six communities throughout Kent County, including the City of Grand Rapids, the City of Walker, Cascade Township, Plainfield Township, Cedar Springs, and Sparta. Each community highlighted specific development sites, providing insights on 20+ development opportunities. The goal is to bring developers and communities together to highlight project opportunities.
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Revitalization & Placemaking
The Right Place was awarded a $6.17M regional placemaking grant that will fund several public place initiatives throughout the region. The investment in public placemaking projects, which brings new vibrancy to a community, is the most visible of economic development tools. The grant will support 17 projects across 9 counties, ranging from an ice-skating rink in Holland to the restoration of Sullivan Field in Grand Rapids.
Place Matters Summit
From the valuable insights conveyed by our panelists to the unique venue at Cedar Springs Brewing Company, our inaugural Place Matters Summit brought together 100+ community dreamers, doers and leaders from over 15 counties to discuss and learn about Placemaking and the importance to our prosperity.
Factory Yards
The Right Place, Inc. announced our partnership with Factory Yards on the approval of a Transformational Brownfield Plan. This series of redevelopment and new construction projects will bring an influx of new residents and commercial activity to the Godfrey Corridor in Grand Rapids. The Factory Yards project will bring a $146M investment in southwest Grand Rapids, revitalizing more than 15 acres and creating up to 467 residential units.
Statewide Housing Plan
The Right Place, in partnership with Housing Next and the Urban League of West Michigan, is co-leading West Michigan's 13-county regional collaborative that is drafting a regional implementation approach for the State of Michigan's first Statewide Housing Plan. Our regional collaborative has engaged with nearly 300 stakeholders across the region, forming workgroups to refine what priorities, goals, and strategies will be the most impactful in adding new housing options across the region.
PROSPERITY
Tech Week Grand Rapids
Tech Week returned for its second year in 2023, ft. headline speaker Malcolm Gladwell. This weeklong “Unconference” is designed as a collection of events across the region, all created with the goal of highlighting our vibrant tech and innovation community. This year we welcomed over 13,000 attendees throughout the week to 30+ events. Special thanks to the nearly 50 community and business partners who came together to make this week a success! Mark your calendar for its return the week of Sept. 16th.
Gentex
The Right Place supported Gentex with their expansion into downtown Grand Rapids last year. The Zeeland-based company opened a technology hub downtown that is designed to help the company support, attract, and retain top engineering talent throughout West Michigan.
MMTC-West
In 2023 the MMTC-West team completed 251 projects with 164 companies.
Industry 4.0
Our MMTC-West team awarded 26 companies the Industry 4.0 implementation grant for a total of $592,775.
Falk Panel
Panel production company Falk Panel expanded its facility at 1782 Northridge Drive in Walker. They are anticipating $35 million in new investments and the creation of an additional 45 new jobs as they continue their growth in the region.
TiiCKER
TiiCKER, the world's first shareholder loyalty and engagement platform, is expanded in Grand Rapids. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $4.8 million and create 73 high-wage jobs over a three-year period. The company chose Michigan for the project over competing sites in Florida, Missouri, and New York.
Jireh Metals
The Right Place assisted Jireh Metal Products with an expansion that will vertically integrate metal fabrication and assembly operations, giving the company greater ability to serve customer needs from prototype to finished parts. The company’s Walker facility will generate capital investment of over $1.5 million and create 50 jobs.
2023 REPORTS
The Right Place's Business Intelligence team is dedicated to providing valuable insights into the economic landscape of the Greater Grand Rapids region. Annually, our team researches and authors comprehensive reports covering a variety of key industries.
Strategic Plan Progress
2023-2025
2023 marked the beginning of our 3-year strategic plan.
You can view our new 2023-2025 Strategic Plan here.
New & Retained Jobs
2023: 1,393
GOAL: 4,000
New Capital Investment
2023: $453M
GOAL: $500M
Average Wage
2023: $25.02
GOAL: $26.50
Community Development
Investment
2023: $112.9M
GOAL: $100M
TEAM
The Right Place is staffed by a skilled team of economic development and business professionals.
View a list of our team here.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHAIR
Tina Freese Decker*
President & CEO,
Corewell Health
VICE CHAIR
Bill Pink, PhD*
President,
Ferris State University
TREASURER
Steve Downing*
President & CEO,
Gentex Corporation
Stephen M. Abbott – JPMorgan Chase
Sara Armbruster – Steelcase, Inc.
Rick Baker – Grand Rapids Chamber
Norman J. Beauchamp Jr.*, MD MHS – Michigan State University
Matt Biersack, MD – Trinity Health
Luke Cherveny – PwC
Jeffrey L. Connolly – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Shawn Crowley – Atomic Object
Michael Davenport – Jireh Metal Products, Inc.
Lauren Davis – Huntington
Ronald G. DeWaard – Varnum LLP
Jim Dillard – Perrigo Company plc
Katie Ferris – BDO
Joi Harris – DTE Energy
Nick Hrnyak – Lacks Enterprises
Joshua Hulst – Michigan Software Labs
John Kennedy – Autocam Medical
Blake W. Krueger* – Wolverine Worldwide
Charles Lepper – Grand Rapids Community College
Charles Lott – Wells Fargo
Dr. Philomena Mantella* – Grand Valley State University
Megan Norris – Miller Canfield
Andi Owen – MillerKnoll
Milind Pant – Amway Corporation
Richard J. Pappas Ed.D – Davenport University
Julie Rietberg – Greater Regional Alliance of Realtors
Garrick J. Rochow* – Consumers Energy Company
Tony Sarsam – SpartanNash
Rich Sorota – Miller Johnson
Tom Stritzinger – Comerica Bank
Julius Suchy – Ada Township
Renee C. Tabben* – Bank of America
Jim Teets* – ADAC Automotive
Randy Thelen* – The Right Place, Inc.
David Van Andel* – Van Andel Institute
Al Vanderberg – Kent County
Mike VanGessel – Rockford Construction
Sozon Vatikiotis – Acrisure
Mark Washington – City of Grand Rapids
Mark J. Wassink – Warner, Norcross & Judd LLP
Thomas G. Welch, Jr. – Fifth Third Bank
Sean P. Welsh* – PNC Bank
*Executive Committee Member
INVESTORS
We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to our new and renewing investors of 2023.
Through your investment, we have been able to accomplish many things in the last year. With your unwavering support we are able to continue our work to create a sustainable and thriving economy for all in the Greater Grand Rapids region.
#
1 Bold Step
42 North Partners
A
Acrisure, LLC.
Ada Township
ADAC Automotive
ADHD Online, LLC.
Advantage Benefits Group
Advantage Commercial Real Estate
AEBetancourt
Alpine Township
Amazon
Amway
Andy J Egan Company, Inc.
Aon Risk Solutions
Applied Innovation
Aquinas College
Array of Engineers
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
Atomic Object, LLC
Augusto
Autocam Medical
Auxo Investment Partners
AvaSure Inc.
B
Baker Holtz P.C.
Bank of America
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
BDO USA, LLP
Behler-Young Company
Ben M. Muller Realty Co.
Beverlin Manufacturing Corp.
Biotech Restorations LLC
BISSELL Inc.
BizStream
Blackford Capital Associates Inc.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Bluewater Hayes Inc.
Bradford White Corporation
brightly
Brooksource
Buist Electric Inc.
Burgess Concrete Construction
Byrne Electrical Specialists, Inc.
C
Caledonia Charter Township
Calvin University
CampSpot
Cascade Charter Township
Cascade Die Casting
Cascade Partners
CD Barnes Construction
CertifID
ChoiceOne Bank
City Innovations
City of Cedar Springs
City of East Grand Rapids
City of Grand Rapids
City of Grandville
City of Kentwood
City of Rockford
City of Walker
City of Wyoming
Clark Communications
Classic Transportation & Warehousing
Coldwell Banker Commercial - Schmidt Realtors
Comerica Bank
Comfort Research
Commercial Alliance of REALTORS
Common Sail Investment Group
Construction Simplified, Inc.
Consumers Credit Union
Consumers Energy Foundation
Corewell Health
Crowe LLP
Crystal Flash
CS Erickson
Custer
D
D + M Metal Products
Dan Vos Construction Company
Davenport University
Deloitte
DeWys Metal Solutions
Digital Industry Group
DISHER
DoerenMayhew
DornerWorks Ltd
DP Fox Ventures, LLC
Driesenga & Associates, Inc.
DTE Energy Foundation
E
Echelbarger, Himebaugh, Tamm and Co., PC
Eenhoorn LLC
EG Workforce Solutions
Mike Ellis
Elzinga & Volkers, Inc.
Erhardt Construction
Ernst & Young LLP
Express Employment Professionals
F
Ferris State University
Feyen Zylstra
Fifth Third Bank, West Michigan
First Merchants Bank
First National Bank of Michigan
Fishbeck
Fleetwood Group, Inc.
Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc.
Flexco
FlexTal
Foresight Management
Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Four Square Ventures
Franklin Partners LLC
Fusionary
G
Gaines Charter Township
General Motors Company
Gentex Corporation
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Ghafari
GHSP
Gordon Food Service Inc
Grand Rapids Charter Township
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids Controls Co LLC
Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing
Grand River Bank
Grand Valley State University
Granger Construction
Great Lakes Commercial Finance
Greater Regional Alliance of REALTORS
GTF Technologies
H
H & S Companies, PC
Horizon Bank
HR Collaborative
Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors
Hylant
I
Ideology
Independent Bank
Insperity
Irwin Seating Company
ITC Holdings Corp.
J
Jireh Metal Products Inc
Jones Lang LaSalle, IP, Inc. - GR
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
K
Kaiser IT Group
Kent Companies Inc
Kent County
KeyBank
Keystone Solutions Group
L
Lacks Enterprises Inc
LaFleur Marketing
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Lakewood Construction
Lee Contracting
Leggett & Platt, Inc.
Lighthouse Insurance Group, Inc.
Lowell Charter Township
Lumbermen's, Inc.
M
Macatawa Bank Corporation
Materials Testing Consultants, Inc.
Mattson Financial Services, LLC
McAlvey, Merchant & Associates
Medbio, Inc.
Meijer, Inc.
Meritage Hospitality Group Inc
Michigan Software Labs
Michigan State University
Midwest Capital Advisors
Mighty in the Midwest
Miller Johnson
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C.
MillerKnoll
MindSpring
Mitchell Intellectual Property Law
MLive Media Group, LLC
Moore & Bruggink, Inc.
Morant Law
MOSS
Mutually Human
N
NAI Wisinski of West Michigan
Nexus Software Solutions
Nicolai North America
Ninth Brain
NN Mobile Solutions
Northgate Holdings LLC
Nucraft
NuWave Technology Partners
O
Orka Automation
P
Packaging Compliance Labs
PADNOS
Payload CMS
PeopleIT
Perrigo
Pioneer Construction
Plainfield Charter Township
Plante Moran
Pleune Service Company
PNC Bank
Pondera Advisors
Praeco Skills, LLC
Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP
Progressive Companies
Pure Architects
Q
Quality Air
R
Rainstar Capital Group
RDV Corporation
Rehmann Group
Riveron
Rockford Construction Company, Inc.
RoMan Manufacturing Inc.
ROWE Professional Services Company
S
S. A. Morman & Co.
Schneider Electric SA
SecurAlarm Systems, Inc.
Signature Associates
SME
Spartan Innovations
SpartanNash
SpinDance, Inc.
Steelcase, Inc.
Stewart Ponitz Group
Surus Transport
Switch
SxanPro
Symplicity Communications, Inc.
T
TACK Electronics, Inc.
Tech Defenders
Tesa Tape Inc
The Christman Company
The Huntington National Bank
Think Chromatic
Third Coast Development
TowerPinkster
Trailhead Technology Partners
Trellis
Triangle Associates, Inc.
Trinity Health Grand Rapids
Triterra
Twisthink
U
Unist Inc
United Bank of Michigan
V
Van Andel Institute
Van Haren Electric
Varnum LLP
Veneklasen Construction
Village of Sparta
W
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Waséyabek Development Company LLC
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
West Michigan Community Bank
West Michigan Plumbers, Fitters and Services Trades - Local Union 174
Western Michigan University
Westwater Group
White Knight Labs
Whitecaps Community Foundation
Williams Distributing Co.
Windemuller
Wolverine Building Group
Wolverine Coil Spring Co
Wolverine Worldwide, Inc.
Y
YETi CGI