8.12.20 – Jeremiah Gracia & Layla Aslani

Jeremiah Gracia joined the City of GR Economic Development Office in May 2020.  He has 16 years of economic development experience working in the Columbus and Findlay, Ohio markets.  His experience includes international business development working with companies from Japan, Germany, India, Netherlands, and many others.  He is a member of the Michigan Economic Developers Association and is serving as an Annual Meeting Host Committee Member for the statewide conference that will be hosted in Grand Rapids on August 22-25.

His wife and four children enjoy visiting all the great West Michigan beaches.

Layla Aslani is a Planning Project Manager for the City of Grand Rapids Planning Department. In this role, she focuses on long-range planning and is currently working on a multi-year effort to update the City’s Master Plan. She is also active in the Michigan Association of Planning and serves on the statewide conference planning committee.

Layla holds a bachelor’s in communication studies and a master’s in urban planning, both from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the City in 2014, Layla worked in the private sector and as a print journalist.

Originally from the Upper Peninsula, she spends her free time exploring West Michigan and beyond.