PFE Blog
10 Years of City Building, Prepping for a World of Winter and Shopping Small
Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) works with partners Downtown and throughout the community to create a vibrant and welcoming neighborhood for everyone to enjoy. This work is constant and ever evolving, and we’ve been at…
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Your Roadmap to Meaningful Gift Giving
What is the best gift you've ever been given? I'll bet it has a fun backstory! Sitting here, I've caught a glimpse of my favorite art print out of the corner of my eye and…
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Local First Workshop Recap: Conflict to Conversation
Raise your hand if you've ever been faced with conflict...Okay, now you can put it down. I'm confident in asking that because one of life's firm truths is that we are all faced with conflict…
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October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present! People First Economy's Experience Manager, Halla Maas, interviewed Patrick, the Business Development Coordinator, for Disability Advocates…
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Michigan Good Food Fund supports food and farm businesses making a positive change.
The work of Michigan Good Food Fund advances a more inclusive, resilient food system by investing in food and farm entrepreneurs across the state. As warm summer days give way to falling leaves, many of…
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Bridge Street Market is Your Neighborhood Grocery Store
Bridge Street Market is your neighborhood grocery store bringing fresh, affordable, and local products to Grand Rapids’ vibrant West Side and beyond. Bridge Street Market is a 37,000-square-foot grocery store rooted in the heart of…
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Fair Food Network believes when you start with food, so much is possible.
Detroit-based nonprofit and investor Fair Food Network is on a mission to build community health and wealth through food. Since its founding in 2009, Fair Food Network has grown from a local nonprofit offering Double…
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Michigan’s Food Economy in Action
Food brings people together! Whether it's over soil, tending to seedlings; over the table, passing a plate; or in your neighborhood corridor, sampling local treats: food is communal. It takes many hands to bring the…
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Happy Hispanic & Latin Heritage Month
Happy Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month! We are so privileged to have such a robust and bright Hispanic and Latin Community in West Michigan. People First Economy wants to celebrate just a handful of inspiring…
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Supporting Local Businesses to Create a Vibrant & Welcoming Downtown
In 2018, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc (DGRI) launched the Retail Business Incubation Program to attract new businesses and begin filling out Downtown’s fledgling retail scene. Flashforward 5 years, 19 businesses and $534,000 later – DGRI…
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