NV Blog - Shaken not stirred

posted on Dec 16th 2009 at 12:00am by Mark Lewis

You have heard the old adage. But instead of a quick pick me up, worthy of a man named James – I’d like to think this is more of a feeling that we in the neighborhood business districts of Grand Rapids are experiencing this year. Neighborhood Ventures is no exception.

We were shaken in 2009 with the resignation and moving on from our founding Executive Director Kimberly VanDyk. A series of staffing shifts created a new face of the economic development organization that strives for continuity in our neighborhoods.

Challenges in the economy also meant a higher demand for services from the neighborhood businesses that we serve. From technical assistance to building improvement grants, marketing, access to capital, or training opportunities, owners are pulling out all of the stops in an attempt to maintain steady activity in their respective business. Limited staff and resources require revised thinking on how to fulfill the need.

Up for the challenges we face as an organization; the factors above stirred us to action!

I am happy to have been offered the opportunity to join Neighborhood Ventures in this period of transition. Creating a viable neighborhood in which to live, work, and play is not just a job for me. It has been my lifestyle for the past decade and a half in Grand Rapids’ urban core.

Aware of the concerns that lie ahead, I am also excited to have a front row view of the opportunities that lay ahead for our neighborhood business districts. Corporate layoffs mean new entrepreneurs on the street, with the smarts to back them up. Vacant space in our neighborhood commercial corridors offers an open canvas for painting the next great business idea. Hot-off-the-press market data from a recent LISC study gives us the opportunity to take a well designed approach to adding products and services to our unique business districts.

Our goal is twofold: recruiting/retaining businesses to our neighborhood business districts, and working with the business districts to assist them as they organize around marketing and branding or other community projects.

Working closely with organizations that compliment our mission, we can be sure to see that services and trainings which our neighborhood business owners ask for are being provided – in a cost efficient manner. An enhanced relationship with the Neighborhood Business Alliance brings us back on track to remember that the potential for growth opportunity exists in all 20 neighborhood business districts in Grand Rapids. Knowing where we came from helps us move forward together.

Certainly our challenges as a community will not go away at the turn of the calendar. We as an organization still need your support. I invite you to get involved. Participate in your own business district organizing. Consider one of our open seats on the Neighborhood Ventures Board of Directors. Show your support with your financial contribution.

I look forward to 2010 at Neighborhood Ventures and in Grand Rapids’ neighborhood business districts. In the meantime, I’ll take mine with a twist.

Have a wonderful holiday season!