Michigan Business Beat | Tim Mroz, The Right Place, 2026 Development Report & Growth Outlook Recap

Originally uploaded June 16th, reloaded June 20th. Chris Holman welcomes back Tim Mroz, Senior Vice President of Community Development, The Right Place, Grand Rapids, MI. Welcome back Tim, quickly remind the Michigan business community about The Right Place? The report describes a mood of "cautious optimism" across Greater Grand Rapids. What factors are giving developers and business leaders confidence, and what challenges are still causing caution? Greater Grand Rapids is seeing major investments in projects like the Acrisure Amphitheater, Amway Stadium, and airport expansion. How do projects of this scale translate into long-term economic growth and business opportunities for the region? Industrial vacancy remains well below the national average, while companies continue expanding. What does that tell us about the region's competitiveness for manufacturing, logistics, and business investment? Housing continues to be a major issue for employers trying to attract and retain talent. What did the report reveal about the balance between housing demand, affordability, and new development activity? Looking ahead, what should business owners, investors, and community leaders be watching most closely as Greater Grand Rapids works to sustain this momentum through 2026 and beyond? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ The Right Place publishes 2026 Development Report highlighting cautious optimism, record-setting projects, and long-term investment across Greater Grand Rapids (GRAND RAPIDS, MI)— Greater Grand Rapids economic development organization The Right Place, Inc., has released its 2026 Development Report, a comprehensive analysis of the region’s industrial, office, retail, and housing sectors. The 28-page report combines firsthand intelligence and data from leading commercial real estate partners to provide a holistic view of the development ecosystem in Greater Grand Rapids. The full report was recently distributed to The Right Place investors and participants at Developer Day. It can be found on the Right Place website: www.rightplace.org/developmentreport Below are summaries of the key sectors identified in the report, along with a 2026 outlook: Industrial: Ongoing Demand with Extended Timelines Greater Grand Rapids’ industrial market enters 2026 slightly outperforming 2025. Industrial vacancy stood at 3.3% in Q1 2026—well below the national average of 7.1%—while inventory reached 125.58 million square feet. Demand is active, though decision timelines have extended as buyers take a more deliberate approach. Average asking rent reached $6.36/sq ft, remaining significantly below the national average of $10.42/sq ft, keeping the region cost-competitive for industrial users. A highlight project is Proper Beverage Co.’s $80–90 million expansion into 300,000 sq ft of new industrial space in Kentwood, boosting annual production capacity by more than 460%. # # # About The Right Place, Inc. The Right Place, Inc., is a regional nonprofit founded in 1985 with the mission to drive sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity for all in the Greater Grand Rapids Region. The Right Place works to achieve this mission by focusing on three core areas: People, Place, and Prosperity. The Right Place is an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) as designated by the International Economic Development Council. Find out more by visiting rightplace.org, liking us on Facebook, and following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.