Name: Michigan Author Series - Colleen Alles
Start: 2026-11-03
End: 2026-11-03

We are an economic generator through sports tourism for Greater Grand Rapids and Kent County in the West Michigan area.

We own and operate an award winning baseball/softball complex; the Meijer Sports Complex [www.MeijerSportsComplex.com](https://www.MeijerSportsComplex.com) featuring eight fields, including a championship field that seats 1,000.

Our signature event, the Meijer State Games of Michigan (Olympic-style sporting event), draws 10,000 athletes through 60+ sports in its Winter and Summer Games.  We work with many of our local sports clubs and organizations to host various regional and national tournaments.

Why Grand Rapids? We have:
•	12,000 + hotel rooms (2,500 downtown)
•	234,000 square foot downtown convention center (fits 40 volleyball courts)
•	12,000 seat Van Andel Arena
•	5 facilities that feature 4+ courts and multiple grass or turf fields
•	Grant program for new events
•	and more!

West Michigan Sports Commission

Explore our city's early history through Charles E. Belknap’s *The Yesterdays of Grand Rapids*. This classic work, which began as a popular column in the Grand Rapids Press, features Belknap's firsthand accounts of life in the Grand River valley. Local historian Colleen Alles recently edited and expanded this collection, adding new stories by Belknap and providing her own contextual essays. At this event, Alles will share insights into Belknap’s remarkable life and discuss her process for researching and revising this new edition. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase copies of the book. For adults.

Michigan Author Series - Colleen Alles

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