![Grand Rapids Makes Forbes’ List Of 15 Cities’ Emerging Downtowns](http://townsquare.media/site/44/files/2013/09/Grand-Rapids-630x504.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Grand Rapids Makes Forbes’ List Of 15 Cities’ Emerging Downtowns
Grand Rapids is getting some more love from the folks at Forbes Magazine. They've already named us one of the ten happiest cities to work in, and the number one city to raise a family in, and now they've bestowed us with the honor of being names one of the top 15 cities with emerging downtowns!
Those of us who live here know that Grand Rapids is a place full of awesomeness and growth, but it's nice to have it pointed out by national news mediums like Forbes. What makes downtown so great according to Forbes? Well, they cite the new Downtown Market, Van Andel Arena, the Grand Rapids Museum, DeVos Place, the Medical Mile, and the fact that we've managed to convert a lot of abandoned warehouse space into commercial and residential space. Among all of the rest of the awesomeness, of course.
Here's what they had to say:
Since the mid-1990s, the small Michigan city has drummed up billions in public-private funding. Investments have yielded the Van Andel Arena, the new $60 million home of the Grand Rapids Museum, a $220 million convention center, and $1 billion in new hospitals and new headquarters for Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. Rockford Construction has converted more than a dozen abandoned warehouses and office buildings into 400,000 square feet of updated residential, retail and office space. This summer will welcome the $30 million Downtown Market, a year-round culinary marketplace, spanning 130,000 square feet and the city plans to build a rapid transit bus line that will more easily cart people from the suburbs to Grand Rapids' downtown.
They didn't even get around to mentioning all of the great events that take place downtown including ArtPrize, Festival of The Arts, and the 4th of July Family Fireworks & Fun! You barely scratched the surface, Forbes, but we appreciate the shout out.
[Forbes]
More From Mix 95.7
![Detroit’s One Of The Deadliest Cities To Drive In America](http://townsquare.media/site/44/files/2024/02/attachment-Deadly-Michigan-Drivers-Feature-Pic-Canva.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Popular ADHD Medicine Recalled After Wrong Pills Found In Bottles](http://townsquare.media/site/44/files/2024/02/attachment-ADHD-Med-Recall-Canva-Feature-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![These Four Michigan Companies Made America’s Top 100 Large Employers List](http://townsquare.media/site/44/files/2022/02/attachment-Forbest-Best-Large-Employers-In-America-Feature-Pic.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Forbes Lists Grand Rapids As Best Place To Retire In Michigan](http://townsquare.media/site/46/files/2021/07/attachment-max-harlynking-DGP-759-Ukk-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Forbes Lists GR Wine Festival as One of the Best in North America](http://townsquare.media/site/45/files/2017/08/GettyImages-98764575.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Forbes Announces 10 Big U.S. Cities With The Fastest-Growing Economies. How do we Stack up?](http://townsquare.media/site/45/files/2017/10/grand-rapids-Blue-Bridge-at-night.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Grand Valley State University Vying For Top Spot In Forbes’ #MyTopCollege Contest](http://townsquare.media/site/44/files/2014/07/RS2744_000003299074-scr-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Three Michigan Cities Land On Forbes’ ‘Most Miserable’ List For 2013](http://townsquare.media/site/44/files/2013/11/welcome-to-detroit.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Avoid Traffic at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival with Free Shuttle](http://townsquare.media/site/44/files/2024/07/attachment-Laura-Template-81.jpg?w=980&q=75)