Economic Development Coordinator I - Project Administration

City of Grand Rapids•City Hall 300 Monroe Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is for a numbers-oriented individual who enjoys complex development projects, maintaining precise financial records, and supporting Grand Rapids' economic development initiatives. The primary purpose of this job is to coordinate the administration of various tax abatement and tax increment financing programs, with a significant focus on supporting projects for the Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. This position requires a love for spreadsheets, a head for accounting, and meticulous attention to detail.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, urban planning, or related field
At least three (3) years of professional experience related to economic development
Any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities

Responsibilities

Coordinates day-to-day monitoring of Inclusion Plan requirements for Brownfield and non-Brownfield incentive projects, including initial plan intake, secured subcontractor reports, final reports, follow-up with developers, and maintenance of project compliance records.
Collects, tracks, and reviews annual project surveys for completed and incomplete economic development projects, including Brownfield, tax abatement, and other incentive-supported projects.
Maintains project data in Salesforce, shared tracking files, project records, and other internal systems to ensure project status, contact information, approval details, and reporting data remain accurate and current.
Serves as the routine staff contact for active EGLE grant reporting, including coordinating with consultants and developers, collecting invoices and supporting documentation, updating budget tracking spreadsheets, preparing draft quarterly reports, and monitoring grant revenue and expenditure activity.
Prepares and maintains grant documentation files, reimbursement backup, payment folders, and internal tracking spreadsheets for EGLE, EPA, RAP, LBRF, and other redevelopment-related grant programs.
Conducts first-level review of developer reimbursement materials, including invoices, proof of payment, lien waivers, sworn statements, and other supporting documentation needed to verify completeness before final review.
Assembles Brownfield reimbursement packets, including tax payment confirmation sheets, delinquent tax documentation, payment request cover sheets, project accounting backup, approval minutes, and developer correspondence.
Performs routine tax payment confirmation work for active reimbursement projects using Treasurer, Assessor, BS&A, Oracle, Salesforce, and other applicable systems.
Updates and maintains project-level TIR accounting workbooks, reimbursement logs, payment records, grant tracking files, and supporting documentation for audit and reporting purposes.
Assists with preparation of Act 381 reporting materials, annual survey data, State reporting backup, and documentation requested during regulatory or project audits.
Coordinates routine payment processing steps for reimbursements and grant disbursements, including preparing payment materials, confirming accounting codes, tracking Oracle activity, and documenting completed payments.
Supports administration of non-Brownfield incentive programs, including OPRA, NEZ, DDA, CIA, SmartZone, LBA, RAP, and related development support programs through data tracking, documentation collection, survey follow-up, and routine compliance monitoring.
Maintains organized project files for approved plans, agreements, reimbursement requests, grant reports, approval documents, correspondence, and closeout materials.
Communicates with developers, consultants, internal departments, and partner agencies to request missing information, clarify documentation needs, track project status, and support timely completion of routine program requirements.
Documents recurring program procedures, maintains workflow checklists, identifies administrative gaps, and elevates issues requiring policy interpretation, financial review, legal input, or management approval.
Performs related work as required.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision starting on Day 1
6% employee 401a contribution with employer matching (6% or 7% based on bargaining unit)
Employee & Employer contributions to Retiree Health Savings Account
Voluntary benefits such as term life insurance, flexible spending accounts, accidental insurance, disability insurance, and deferred compensation plan options
Twelve Paid Holidays
Paid Vacation and Sick Time
Paid Parking (if applicable)
Employee Home Ownership Incentive
Tuition Reimbursement and professional development opportunities
Paid Parental Leave
Employee Assistance Program with free mental health counseling
Comprehensive Wellness program with a health and wellness incentive
Employee Discounts and Perks