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©2010, The Grand Rapids Press

SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2010 www.mlive.com $2.00

It is interesting that the popularity of tax incentives increased dramatically about the same time we began our pursuit of free trade and the trade imbalance began to soar. I wonder if there is a relationship here?

— Pandamonium

No one has asked the most important question yet...

Why does Michigan have to offer tax incentives in the first place ??

— spydermike72

GE Aviation is helping to create the new Chinese C919. That is intended to put Boeing out of business. Great use of tax credits.

— nhaken2

Obviously giving companies tax breaks to set up shop here works. Look at Michigan’s unemployment rate.

— gotham1883

MORE Comments, � A19

� Coming Aug. 15: Does Michigan need 553 school districts?

In our series on rebooting the state, we

asked: Do tax incentives bring new jobs? You

answered: Ideas for Michigan’s future, in response to our Michigan 10.0 series, from the online conversation at mlive.com/mi10

Readers give us the business on tax incentives

A river of good will

THE GRAND TOURDISCOVERING OUR GRAND RIVER

BY MICHAEL ZUIDEMA

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

GRAND RAPIDS — Mike Doty hopped out of his kayak, his blue University of Michigan T-shirt completely soaked to his skin.

A steady rain made it look like he had gone for a swim during Saturday morning’s leg of the Grand River Expedition, but the wet weather couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

It’s all part of Doty’s mantra during the 12-day event: Keep on keeping on.

BY HOWARD MEYERSON

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

Day 10 — Grand Rapids to Jenison, 14 miles, 6 hours. Mixed media; the river offers the grandeur of the city from a distance, its urban core and beautiful natural outskirts.

Morning: It became obvious in leaving Lamoreaux Park in a warm and steady rain that the outskirts of Grand Rapids was not very far.

The fi rst beacon is Fifth Third Ball-park, obvious from signs over trees, the light posts and the stadium itself — these were almost more obvious than the highway sounds of U.S. 131, not far from the river.

It was unusual floating into my home city, to see the silhouette of the city come up, its buildings and bridges, through the morning haze.

Paddling under the North Park Bridge, the expedition was welcomed to Grand Rapids by a couple of people unfurling a banner.

The expedition arrived in the rain at Canal Street Park. It was a short trip from Lamoreaux Park, not much more than 90 minutes. The group was greeted by well-wishers at Riverside Park, by those at houses along the banks and by anglers in boats.

Members of Grand Rapids White-SEE JOURNAL, A12

“I love this stuff,” the Grand Ledge native said. “It doesn’t bother me either way, rain or shine. It’s an attitude.”

Fellow paddler Bonnie Mernitz, of Haslett, also couldn’t hide her sunny disposition after exiting the river.

“It might be raining, but it’s warm, and the people are great,” she said. “Good fl oat.”

The early rain that drove off a pack

of Girl Scout volunteers let up in time for a midmorning community event at Sixth Street Park.

Local restaurants provided lunch for the paddlers, along with a massage station and live music.

Paddlers shared their tales of the river with a group of about 100 people, and the city of Grand Rapids was pre-sented with a certifi cate of apprecia-tion for hosting the event.

“I have a renewed appreciation for the small towns and the hospi-tality, the people on the river,” Mer-nitz said. “It’s been such a positive experience.”

SEE EXPEDITION, A12

ON mlivehome: Mlive.com

More photos and stories at �mlive.com/grandriver

NEXT LEG: Jenison to Nunica. Leave Grand Lady Campground, 8 a.m.; arrive Riverside County Park, 3:30 p.m.

AROUND THE BEND: All’s quiet in the community of Nunica — for now, A12

RIVER JOURNAL DAY 10: GRAND RAPIDS TO JENISONThe expedition’s Grand Rapids leg becomes an occasion for accolades

PRESS PHOTOS/KATY BATDORFF

Yes, a river runs through it: Kayakers, from left, Hunter Harig, Andy Bowman and Jacinda Bowman paddle under the Blue Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids as the Grand River Expedition made its way through the city Saturday.

Sign up: Doug Carter, right, chairman of the Grand River Expedition, hands Brian Donovan, of Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds, a paddle to sign as a commitment to protect the river.

Familiarity breeds

contemplation

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THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2010 A13

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

On Saturday, the Grand River Expedition took paddlers through the city named for the river — or at least what it used to do. Dams

have cut down on the mighty rapids that led to our city’s moniker, but the river and its bridges, with tall buildings overhead, still are an impressive sight from water level. A Grand sight, even.

PRESS PHOTO/PAUL L. NEWBY II

Urban portage: Volunteers help guide paddlers close to the river wall’s edge so they can exit their kayaks at Canal Street Park during the Saturday morning arrival of the Grand River Expedition in Grand Rapids.

Under the Blue Bridge: Liutauras Gedvilas checks out the urban scenery Saturday as he kayaks through downtown Grand Rapids.

PRESS PHOTO/KATY BATDORFF

PRESS PHOTO/PAUL L. NEWBY II

The arrival: Paddlers on the Grand River Expedition make their way just north of the Sixth Street Bridge on Saturday morning before exiting the water. Paddlers were served a free lunch and made speeches about protecting and enhancing the Grand River before continuing on their way.

Cruising speed: Collette Wilson, right, reclines on her pink kayak.“I like my feet on top,” she

said. “It’s comfy that way.”

PRESS PHOTO/KATY BATDORFF

PRESS PHOTO/KATY BATDORFF

Conversation time: Paddlers talk with cyclers that were riding across the Kent Trails bridge Saturday on Day 10 of the Grand River Expedition.

REACHING THE RAPIDS