The Right Place, West Michigan’s leading economic development organization, joins the statewide coalition of business leaders, chambers of commerce, public safety organizations, local governments, and transportation leaders to encourage West Michigan’s citizens to vote YES on Proposal 1 on May 5.

“West Michigan’s roads and transportation infrastructure are a vital component to the region’s ability to safely and efficiently conduct commerce,” said Birgit Klohs, President and CEO, The Right Place, Inc. “Roads snarled with traffic due to closures, detours and repairs bring our region’s ability to move goods, create jobs, and grow our economy to a crawl.”

Michigan’s per capita road funding now ranks 50th out of 50 states, as sited by the Associated Press in a road funding study released in February, with $305 spent per capita annually statewide. This seven percent decline in overall road investment from 2008-2013 has resulted in a road infrastructure that is impeding business investment and future economic growth.

“World class transportation infrastructure is fundamental to The Right Place’s ability to grow, retain and attract new business and investment to West Michigan,” said Richard Breon, President and CEO, Spectrum Health. “If Proposal 1 fails, not only will West Michigan not be in the game, it won’t be on the same field.”

About The Right Place, Inc.
The Right Place, Inc. is a regional non-profit economic development organization founded in 1985 and supported through investments from the private and public sector. Its mission is to promote economic growth in the areas of quality employment, productivity and technology in West Michigan by developing jobs through leading business retention, expansion and attraction efforts. For more information visit: www.rightplace.org