The Uptown Business Improvement District meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 8:15 AM has been canceled. Please note: The Uptown Corridor Improvement Authority meeting is happening as scheduled. If you have any questions, please contact the Economic Development Department by email at econdevshrd@grcity.us or by phone at 616-456-3431.
Uptown BID Page
The Grand Rapids SmartZone is the entry point to Grand Rapids' tech startup community. We exist to help tech startup founders connect with funding. By leveraging partnerships with local startup support organizations, we ensure that Grand Rapids is a premier destination to start and grow a tech business.
The SmartZone network offers grants through the Business Accelerator Fund (BAF). BAF grants can be used to conduct market research studies, cover legal costs for licensing or equity agreements, logo design, product testing, patent searches and more.
Grand Rapids invests in entrepreneurs by administering hundreds of thousands of dollars in small grants each year. We know it’s important to get funds directly into the hands of small businesses– and we’ll help provide support to make sure that funding makes an impact for your business.
These programs include:
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