- Four years ago, Grand Rapids launched an aggressive initiative to make west Michigan a global tech hub
- The goal? 20,000 new tech jobs in 10 years, making tech 10% of the region’s workforce
- So far, about 5,600 jobs have been created, growing tech from 6% to 6.5% of the workforce
Zachary Collins tells the kind of story Grand Rapids leaders want to hear.
A west Michigan native and Grand Valley State University grad, Collins left after college to work in the tech industry in Portland, Oregon, only to return home to start a company.
In 2019, Collins and his former high school theater director started Ludus, a Grand Rapids firm that helps organizations sell tickets online. The firm raised $12 million in capital this spring and now employs about 60 people…