Grand Rapids MayorRosalynn Bliss delivered the annual State of the City address Monday evening. . Bliss, now in her fourth year on the job. Bliss began her speech by highlighting some of the accomplishments the city commission has made over the past year under her leadership.
"As we look back on 2018, we should be encouraged,” Bliss said. “We experienced a year of positive economic growth and a skyline dotted with cranes. New and expanding business projects brought hundreds of new jobs and expanded opportunities to Grand Rapids. Good things are happening all over our city.”
Some of those good things Bliss added were the new Plaza Roosevelt development on Grandville Avenue moving forward this year, bring a new Grand Rapids Public School that will house 500 students, and include affordable housing, new park, expanded health services and expansion to the Cook Arts Center, as well as the transformation of Bridge Street on the city’s west side.
Still Bliss adds, there is much work to be done, especially when it comes to racial equity.
These inequalities impact our community's economic vitality and basic quality of life for so many of our residents and neighbors,” Bliss said. “As we work to reduce these inequities, we must be intentional and focused in our efforts - as well as work across sectors to have the greatest impact. We must drive a faster pace of positive change and momentum in historically marginalized communities.”
The first female Mayor in Grand Rapids history, it’s a theme Mayor Bliss is sure to repeat as she begins campaigning for re-election this November.