GVSU students launch YGR app

A group of Grand Valley State University seniors developed a mobile app called, YGR, or Why Grand Rapids. The app features a host of Grand Rapids-based stores, restaurants, companies and transportation and entertainment options.

The app also features information in six categories: entertainment, community, jobs, living in GR, networking and government. See more here.

The idea for the app came from a partnership between Grand Valley and the City of Grand Rapids established in 2014. Former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell asked Grand Valley students for suggestions on how to attract and keep college graduates in the city. A special course was formed in fall 2014 where students conducted research and presented 10 recommendations to Heartwell.

Heartwell immediately implemented two of the recommendations — development of the YGR mobile app and the creation of the Mayor's Millennial Advisory Board, made up of representatives from area colleges and universities and from young professional organizations.

Grand Valley students who helped develop the app, called themselves "Advanced Solutions," and included Ryan Banaszak, Brent Bouwkamp, Chris DeNeef, Trent Keusch and Cameron Lewis. They worked under the direction of instructor David Lange in Grand Valley's School of Computing and Information Systems. 

"YGR allows users to easily find what they need around our growing city," said Banaszak. "With a sleek, modern and fun design, our team believes users will be jumping to come back to the app. The Grand Valley students who have previewed the app feel it will go a long way in promoting the region as a choice place for our generation to develop future careers."

The free app is available in the Android Play Store and is coming soon to the Apple Store.