Search Engine Marketing In Grand Rapids

Furniture City

Located in southwest Michigan on the Grand River, Grand Rapids in the county seat of Kent County and the second largest city in Michigan. The city is most well known for its historical furniture industry, after an 1876 exhibition in Philadelphia the many small furniture shops in Grand Rapids gained national recognition. Today there are many small and large furniture production operations in the city; most notable of these are major manufacturers like Steelcase & Knoll and Baker Furniture. Grand Rapids is also the home of many of the regions largest retail outlets such as Meijer Inc., Spartan Stores, and D&W Food Centers.

The city is not only a furniture and retail center, it also has many other industries such as automobile parts and health care. Major auto part suppliers Adac Plastics, Benteler Industries, Lear Corporation, and Meridian Automotive Systems have large manufacturing and distribution operations in Grand Rapids and supply automotive manufacturing plants located in Detroit and throughout the U.S. Grand Rapids has numerous hospitals and healthcare facilities that provide world-class care to the city's residents and people all over western Michigan. Some of the more notable area hospitals include DeVos Children's Hospital, Metropolitan Hospital, St. Mary's Medical Center, and Spectrum Health Center. The city is also home to many private practice doctors and the Mary Free Bed Hospital and Rehab Center. The Van Andel Institute is a $200 million dollar research facility specializing in molecular oncology and has attracted thousands of jobs to the city.

Grand Rapids has many advantages that will continue to attract new businesses. There are numerous business parks with affordable office space and many sites zoned for industrial use. High speed internet access is available throughout the city via the fiber optic ring that allows companies to purchase T1/T3 lines and bandwidth up to OC96. The transportation network is robust and can cover air, ground, and rail. The Gerald Ford International Airport offers nonstop flights to over 18 U.S. airports and has recently underwent a $290 million dollar renovation project. Grand Rapids has an extensive rail network that is served by CSX, Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak.

SOHO Prospecting provides Grand Rapids Marketing Services for Small Companies as well as large corporations. We evaluate your target market in Grand Rapids for an Internet Marketing Promotion and Advertising plan created specific for your needs.

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Grand Rapids Info

• Population: 197,800
• Area: 45 sq. miles
• Median Family Income: $44,224
• Median Age : 30 Years
• Per Capita Income: $17,661

The city of Grand Rapids has a number of incentive programs for new and expanding businesses such as tax abatements, low interest financing, and targeted redevelopment programs.

The Brownfield Redevelopment program offers tax increment financing to developers who cleanup of idle or underused commercial properties known as brownfields. Demolition, asbestos abatement, site preparation, and infrastructure improvements are all expenses that are covered in the program.

There is also a program that can reduce property taxes, both real and personal, for high technology manufacturers that expand manufacturing plants or build new ones. Companies that replace or restore obsolete buildings or machinery can deduct 100% of the improvement value.

A number of other programs are available as well such as Historic Preservation Tax Credits, the Kent Area Microbusiness Loan, and Tax Exempt Industrial Revenue Bonds.