Building a City Movement
Thrive + Prosper is driving a movement to make Grand Rapids a better place to live. Today, we represent a collective of hundreds of local businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, community organizations, faith organizations and residents who are exploring bold ideas, refining small experiments and driving progress.
Building Momentum in 2024
In 2024, Thrive + Prosper strengthened its foundation by expanding initiatives and fostering deeper collaboration across Grand Rapids. Through two Opportunity Marketplace events, we convened more than 175 local leaders, investors and business owners to drive forward strategies in business, entrepreneurship and workforce development. These gatherings led to new investments, cross-sector collaborations and actionable initiatives designed to remove barriers and create economic opportunities.
As we build on our progress from 2024, we’re poised to further our commitment to removing barriers, expanding opportunities and fostering a city where everyone can thrive and prosper in 2025 and beyond.
Change Happens at the Pace of Deep Relationships
Cocktails + Cross-pollination
Cocktails + Cross-pollination creates space for connection and collaboration among community leaders, investors and changemakers. Each monthly gathering brings together a unique mix of voices and industries that sparks fresh connections and new opportunities.
Opportunity Marketplace
The Opportunity Marketplace brings together networks and leaders in the community to understand the landscape in our community and present strategies and solutions that deliver real impact.
In 2024, we hosted two pivotal events: one centered on business development, which fostered collaborations among entrepreneurs and investors to stimulate economic growth; the other on workforce development to connect job seekers with employers and resources to enhance employment opportunities. These gatherings have become instrumental in driving collective action and measurable progress within our community.
Opportunity Empowered
Opportunity Empowered puts the power in the hands of local residents to identify, uplift and prioritize ideas from within to address community issues. Initiatives are focused on community improvement projects, new business start-up support and small business growth.
Expanding Our Impact in 2025
In 2024, we made significant progress across our four workstreams. As we look ahead to 2025, we are building on this momentum with new and evolving initiatives designed to deepen connections, expand opportunities and continue shaping a more interconnected and thriving Grand Rapids. Two of these workstreams are Flourishing Leaders and Southtown.
Flourishing Leaders
Flourishing Leaders mobilizes faith communities as innovative change agents by strengthening relationships between churches, community organizations and neighborhood leaders.
One featured initiative from this past year was The Catalyst Experience. The Catalyst Experience brings cross-sector leaders together in a cohort-based experience. Using the Incarnational Training Framework, together with vision trips and learning labs, participating leaders develop new understandings of how to engage in city transformation.
Southtown
Thrive + Prosper is strengthening Southtown by building connections, empowering local leaders and driving systemic change. With new initiatives underway, Southtown is poised to become a bustling hub of entrepreneurship, cultural vibrancy and long-term economic opportunity.
