“In terms of Grand Rapids specifically, what really makes it standout, it led the country since 2019 in the increase in the percent of the creative class grew by 6.1%, the largest amongst large metro areas in the country.”
Ross DeVol is CEO and chairman of Heartland Forward, a think-and-do tank with an emphasis on middle-America. It authored a report studying talent migration trends.
“So, what makes Grand Rapids standout? Well, when you go through the data and the analysis it’s the biomedical complex, the Medical Mile. The jobs that have been created there. These are research jobs, they’re clinical, they’re the academic institutions. All together there’s probably close to 60,000 bioscience jobs related in the area. So, that’s been a large magnet for talent and attraction. And of course, Grand Valley State University and the other universities there create a number of STEM graduates and also in the medical profession. So, there’s kind of a health cluster, if you will, that’s developed. But you’re also seeing professional services, financial services, and scientific talent really lead the way and you combine that with outstanding quality of place and Grand Rapids has led the country in the growth of the percent of the adult population that are in the creative class over the past four years.”
The full report can be found at:
