GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
Downtown Map
Area Map
As the second largest urban area in Michigan, Grand Rapids is a vibrant business, financial, cultural and entertainment center. It is an exceptional place to live due to responsive government, affordable housing, quality schools, accessible health care and diverse entertainment options. Recent awards include:
One of the "Best Places to Live and Work," Best Places Rated
Three-time winner of "All-America City," National Civic League
One of the Top 10 "America's Safest Cities," Risk & Insurance
One of "America's Most Livable Communities," Partners for Livable Communities
One of the "Top 10 Healthiest Towns," Men's Health
Second among Midwest "Best Cities for Entrepreneurs," Entrepreneur
One of the "Best Cities for Relocating Singles," Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocation
Third in the nation for recreational opportunities, Places Rated Almanac
One of the Top 10 "Fishing Cities," Field & Stream
Commerce
The metropolitan Grand Rapids area is home to more than 1.3 million residents who work in a wide variety of businesses, from high-tech start-ups to established Fortune 500 companies. Key industries are diverse and include:
Health care
Biosciences
Consumer goods
Automotive
Office furniture
Aerospace
Packaging
Transportation
Downtown
Millions of dollars in new developments have transformed downtown Grand Rapids into a true business, cultural and entertainment destination. In addition to being the corporate center of the city, downtown Grand Rapids is home to a successful sports and entertainment arena, convention center, performing arts center, children's museum, public museum and riverfront hotels. In addition to dozens of fine restaurants and fun bars, downtown is also home to numerous new condo and loft developments. One of Michigan's leading universities has a downtown campus.
Culture
Building on a long tradition of supporting the arts, Grand Rapids has many professional performing companies, including ballet, symphony and opera, as well as nearly a dozen community theatres and a guild that regularly brings the best of Broadway to the city. The city is home to a new art museum, a world-class botanical and sculpture park, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, a natural history museum and a planetarium.
Life Sciences and Health Care
As the headquarters for a growing life sciences corridor, Grand Rapids is home to a world-class medical research institute, progressive health care systems and new hospitals, and specialized treatment facilities for cancer, heart disease and other issues. A Big Ten medical school is relocating to the city in 2008.
Sports
The area has several professional sports teams, including a minor-league baseball affiliate, an arena football team and an IHL hockey team. The nation's largest 25K race and an annual marathon start and finish in downtown Grand Rapids.
Outdoors
Michigan's natural beauty presents unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation. While close to other urban centers, like Chicago, Grand Rapids is minutes away from numerous outdoor activities, such as:
A short drive away from Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids also has more than 50 lakes and rivers. Grand Rapids is home to an exceptional parks system, including one of the nation's largest urban parks, and is close to many state and national forests and parks.
Housing
The area offers many affordable and diverse housing options, from downtown condominiums, loft apartments and stately Victorian homes (all within walking distance of the Firm) to suburban and country living (within minutes of downtown). Many downtown condos and apartments are located within Renaissance Zones, offering both personal and business tax breaks to residents. Several members of the Firm live on Lake Michigan or on one of the area's 42 inland lakes, all within easy commuting distance from downtown Grand Rapids.