West Fulton Business Association – Meeting minutes – 2/12/26

West Fulton Business Association – Meeting minutes – 2/12/26

Introductions – wet around the room 

Jaylyn McCloy – she gave a brief overview of what Experience GR does and has to offer.  She is on the marketing team, leisure travel, fun, etc. They have a sales, service and convention team as well to book business here in Grand Rapids – Partnership is $250 annually, WFBA is a member, new Soccer stadium and Amphitheater prompted conversation.  We have a premium spot on site, invites to partner events, annual tourism forum, invite 300 plus partnership members to this event.  Host annual luncheons and other educational opportunities.  How can your business be more accessible around Kent County.  AI in Hospitality was another event they hosted in how AI can affect hospitality.  They have a newsletter as well.  Experience GR doesn’t own any big projects or events, but it is their job to promote them.  They created a development video out of Ada MI to promote 7 different projects downtown. They are going to incorporate all of the new projects into all their new marketing. Invites for parties go directly to email on file.  El Ganjero, Fulton St Pub, etc are partnerships that they try and promote through their paid membership.  They suggest local places to go to eat at all convention center events. Alicia Marie asked if we suggested a bar hop trail to them, they could share and add to their website and their promotions.   They never know what could be possible but are always open to ideas. AliciaMarie mentioned the murals that were just put up, and she replied yes, they add that into their promotions.  AliciaMarie asked how she can talk with Experience GR directly to help promote west side, new welcome signs to neighborhood, is their a plan and who do we send it to.  They do operate the information kiosk at the airport.   They talk more directly. She handed out their development cards to read and review. Brent asked how their info reached the receiver.  Jaylyn said their target market is within 3. 5 hours of GR, they promote restaurant week, beer city USA, other corporate communications along with a national company.  The focus is getting outsiders to visit our business and visitors. 

Chris Cranson – new commercial manager. He works with the Corridor Improvement Authority and the neighborhood association.  He is the liaison between the CIA and the business.  Biggest project is the entry way gate signage.  Bridge ST and Leonard St going up this year, but Fulton won’t go up until next year. AliciaMarie asked about describing them and what they look like.  Each sign will be different color for each specific corridor.  The arch on Fulton will be on Lexington. CIA is running the façade grant program.  Please contact him to have a discussion before starting the project, talk to Chris.  Ongoing trash receptacle program.  We can get one out there and install it on your curb.   Trash is the business owner’s responsibility to empty. The next CIA April 24th because of Spring break at Construction Simplified . Brent mentioned they are trying some better long-term plans – CIA gets 750K.  What does our corridor actually want?  What its short term, long term and overall planning?  What can we do? Highlight the west side.  Brent suggests to think bigger.  We got think much bigger picture to use the large funds that are available to us. 

Verah Narh Kamara – CIA  is an independent body created on state legislation where there is a need for re-development.  Funding through tax increment revenue.  We pay what we normally pay to the city.  West Side CIA was amended in 2021.  Base was established when the authority was implemented. Funds are only approved for strict improvement funds.  Trash cans are not sustainable for big improvements or snow plowing.  CIA has approved a lot of funds like trash, streetscape, bike racks, façade program for investment.  There is a need in other areas for other funds for maintenance.  There are other funding opportunities. Business Increment District – BID.  Funding mechanism works differently through the CIA.  If we had a BID would have to agree to pay additional taxes through assessment.  Every year the city will do the assessment.  It does not have restrictions like a CIA, mainly maintenance.  Trash, snow, marketing budget.  Because it is an assessment you have flexibility to do things that really cater to the business districts that really cater to the area.  The CIA has explored the BID over the years.  We haven’t done it because it has additional taxes.  The taxes are not very much it goes off the linear frontage of the building.  The district can determine how much to spend.  $1/ft of linear frontage.  Could be paying $100 - $200 or less annually to fund this.  When uptown started they did $3 for non profit and $5 for business.  A bigger district could do less and still raise funds.  It works better if both the CIA and BID within the same boundaries.  West Fulton could do it on their own as well and the city would help facilitate that happening.  This summer there is a lot more interest in this with everything that is happening.  Wayfinding’s, greenspace, etc.   The work needs to happen together for it to be a wholistic advantage for the west side.  We can’t do it without our business associations.  It will be up do the business associations to confirm and vote it.  Once she has the green light, she will go to each business association and report back to the CIA and if they set up a BID, rate, etc.  Uptown has had a BID for a long time and have their own trucks, wayfinding,, etc.  Lisa asked who else is on the board from WFBA.  Only Brent is currently on the CIA board.  There are some applications in the queue.  Mike Seaman from Scribner was just active to the board. Lisa asked how we get another WFBA member on the board.  Lisa is concerned it isn’t equally dispersed.  AliciaMarie mentioned it goes through city commission. Lisa’s concern is that there was always an opening on her time on the board.  Need to have a strong WFBA to have another seat.  You need 60% of businesses to vote on a BID but if 60% aren’t here you can’t vote.  The CIA isn’t getting a lot of intel on what the corridor wants.  It is hard to know exactly what each corridor wants. Things have changed so there’s a lot more diversity.  Verah said even if you don’t have each district represented the CIA is there to spread out the funds equally.   Margo asked about the underrepresented corridors could back out of the BID if they wanted.  If they go for a BID it is the entire district of the westside.  If 60% vote yes you can’t opt out.  The other option would be to create 4 different BIDs.  The truth is getting people to commit time to boards is not easy. It made it easy to merge bodies in the uptown area.  Brent said how do we start building to get to the west side to commit and be active districts.  Verah said based on the interest of business districts and if approved the full process begins and gets sent out. They would have full study done that could take time or go quickly.  Engagement is the biggest part.   Brent said he is against it as a business owner unless we have actual uses and have a plan in place.  We don’t want to pay taxes to something that just sits there.  Verah says we do have a plan and it a BID is a nice touch to what the CIA can do.  What opportunities are available beyond that? Scott asked what does the 60% means, it is 60% yes votes from all the businesses. 

Captain Baker – Chief Winstrom is heading to Pensacola and deputy Chief Trigg is moving into the active Chief.   100% endorsement from captain Baker.  City manager has indicated they are going to do a nationwide search for a new chief.  This can be tough on where they are going forward but Windstrom created a great GRPD culture.  The culture is in place and they’ll be okay.  Windstrom did great recruiting.  They are at 330 which is above the 305.  With the new stadium and amphitheater, it will take a lot of staff to get people in and out of downtown.  Staff will keep going up and recruiting.  Because of the positive things they have done over the last few years recruiting is better.  Lateral candidates from other areas that have policing experience make hiring easier.  We are coming out of the winter lull as nothing prevents crime better than sub zero temperature.  We will have some protests on March 28th already scheduled. No kings rally.  Large scale so lots of people but very well peaceful.  We are seeing more and more protesting here and nationwide so keep working on managing those events the best they can.  AliciaMarie asked about community officers.  They are doing well.  Leon had a torn pectoral muscle but is back this week.  If you have something for him please feel free to reach out to him as there is a community officer team in place and their goal is to double that by this summer.  2 on the Westside is ideal but that is dependent on staff.  

Lisa – people asking about parking for soccer stadium and amphitheater.  GVSU is investing in a system to allow people to pay to park in GVSU lots when they are not being used for students during class.  After hours events will have GVSU parking via a payment portal. 

AliciaMarie – mentioned there’s a pedestrian bridge being built in beginning of May from the Seward parking ramp diagonally across from Winter to YMCA.  GVSU partnered with the YMCA and part of that deal with grand action was a pedestrian bridge.  The time frame for the bridge is 4 months… they wanted to shut Lake Michigan dr down for 4 whole months during construction.  Advice is to avoid that area all summer long and find other ways downtown like West Fulton. 

Brent said they are starting the Adobe project in May.  Portion of road on Seward will be blocked off for months. 

Darius Barnes – athletic club Grand Rapids - wants to engage with the west side, he will hopefully be at the next meeting.  

West Grand had their annual meeting last night. 2025 annual impact pamphlets are available.  John was awarded for all around best of the west neighborhood guy. 

Sarah from Sibley – come volunteer and see us at our neighborhood school.  They have been dealing with neighbors using the field and dogs pooping.  Asking about a possible trash can put near Sibley school. 

Carol Hennessey – This will be the building year for them.  Moving things into Calder plaze and some other things as well. New medical examiner building. 

The meeting was adjourned. 

In attendance: 

Lisa Haynes – GVSU, PJ Baker – GRPD, John Schultz – Bridge St Market, Sara Scott – Sibley Elementary, Eliza Hall  - JBAN, Margo Johnson – JBAN, Annette V  - WGNO, Jaylyn MccLoy – Experience GR, AliciaMarie Belchack – City Commission, Brent Gibson – Constructino Simplified, Verah Narh Kamara – City of GR, Scott Bloem – The Other Way, Chris Cranson – WSCIA, Jeff Wustman – Construction Simplified, Paola Mendivil – El Granjero, GROW, Kourosh Khatir – GVSU, Tom Lamancusa -  Nawara Bros, Matthew Peterson – John Ball Zoo, Aum Patel – Qik N EZ, Parimal Patel – Qick n EZ and Carol Hennessey – Kent County