Reinventing Grand Rapids With Dick DeVos

The city of Grand Rapids, Michigan is the home of Dick and Betsy DeVos, heirs to the AmWay and Prince industrial fortunes respectively. The city is one of the most important in Michigan but has often lived in the shadow of its larger neighbors, such as Ann Arbor. The arrival of Dick DeVos in the development of Grand Rapids has led to his family name appearing across institutions in the region. However, the main aim of the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation is not to become a glory project, but to turn the hometown of Dick DeVos into a secure community for working people.

Achieving the success that has been obtained by Dick and Betsy DeVos has a humble beginning with Dick becoming scared about the future of the city when a major sports arena was planned. The decision to build the sports arena was fought against by DeVos as he understood the problems that had been caused in Auburn Hills, Michigan when the Pontiac Silverdome had been abandoned by major sports franchises. Instead, the former AmWay CEO brought together a group of local business leaders to develop a plan to regenerate the city.

The rebirth of the Grand Rapids region appeared to stimulate the political and reforming gene in Dick DeVos, leading to his work to change the way education and work are viewed in the area. Both Dick and Betsy DeVos are known for their work as education reformers who have championed the charter school and voucher options. Although Betsy DeVos has taken the plaudits since she was appointed the Secretary of Education, Dick has been a key member of the Michigan Board of Education for decades.

Dick DeVos is seen as a visionary in terms of the economy of Michigan he felt had stalled for decades. The main problem in the eyes of the AmWay heir was that of unionization halting the progress of the state and city of Grand Rapids. By 2012, DeVos had found a way to change the entire economy of the state of Michigan and provide much-needed employment to the non-union workers in the Grand Rapids region. After fighting for the right-to-work for all Michigan citizens, the law designed by Dick to help develop the Grand Rapids region was passed and allowed every citizen the right to fight for their financial freedom in the state known as the birthplace of U.S. unionism.