GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — While Tuesday's vote by the City of Grand Rapids Committee of the Whole and City Commission wasn't a final vote for approval, it was a show of support for the plan to bring a 8,500 seat soccer stadium to the area, with a final location yet to be determined.
Deputy City Manager Kate Berens says the project could infuse over $300 million dollars into the economy upon completion.
"Hundreds of millions of dollars over a 30 year period in terms of the kinds of revenue we would expect not only activity at the facility itself, but supportive activity," said Berens.
"So think restaurants and hotel stays and those kinds of things."
Non-Profit Grand Action 2.0 is behind the stadium proposal, the same organization behind the Grand Rapids Amphitheatre Project.
Kara Wood, Grand Action 2.0's executive director, spoke to the City Commission about the continued efforts, and how the projects could help make the city more connectable.
"$10 million of contributions towards the affordable housing fund will result including essential riverfront trail connections in our region, and also connections that are important to our near neighborhoods and serving as a catalyst for our commercial and our housing development opportunities," said Wood during the city commission's meeting Tuesday.
The project is in its infancy, and while it has a long way to go, there's excitement brewing over how industries across Kent County may benefit.
"This is something that is part of the next wave of Grand Rapids positioning itself as really the place that people want to be a premiere destination in the Midwest," said Berens.
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