Street Talk: Chamber, KDL partner to support minority businesses

The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and Kent District Library are joining together to strengthen the chamber’s new Center for Economic Inclusion. 

Street Talk: After 100 years, U Club is on the move

A longtime Grand Rapids staple has a new home. 

Street Talk: Grand River Bands on a long, slow trek

The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians recently pledged to continue their advocacy for federal recognition and address additional information requested by the U.S. Department of the Interior. 

Street Talk: City searching for the next ‘big ideas’

What should the city of Grand Rapids look like in the near and long-term future?

Street Talk: Ferris partners with National Security Agency

Ferris State University will play a key role in developing talent and tools for possible national security challenges as it enters into an Education Partnership Agreement with the National Security Agency.

Street Talk: Remembering David Czurak

The Business Journal lost a big piece of its history in December upon the death of longtime reporter David Czurak.

Street Talk: Businesses get a Rapid response

The Rapid is adding a new Route 33 bus in the city of Walker to address commuter needs and business and employment growth.

Street Talk: Recycling efforts ramp up

Kent County residents and waste haulers soon will have a safer facility to drop off recycling and other waste.

Street Talk: Speaking the same language

The Literacy Center of West Michigan’s onsite Customized Workplace English program at global design leader MillerKnoll is showing results.

Street Talk: A labor (force) of love

It’s no secret that West Michigan, like much of the country, is suffering from a shortage of workers.

Street Talk: Students enjoy a star turn

Nearly 400 West Michigan students were surprised this month with a visit from Aldis Hodge, “Black Adam” co-star, SAG Award-winning actor and co-founder of 9B Collective.

Street Talk: Costly freelance standards

Michigan small businesses and entrepreneurs would be hurt significantly if a proposed U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) independent contractor rule goes into effect, according to the Small Business Association of Michigan.

Street Talk: Recession concession?

The West Michigan economy appears to have flattened, but has not yet contracted into a recession, according to the latest monthly survey data released by Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Street Talk: Follow the pattern

With rent and mortgage costs rising and communities across the state challenged to develop enough housing for their residents, the Michigan Municipal League and Michigan Economic Development Corporation have reached back into the past to develop new strategies to help communities add more housing options to their existing neighborhoods.

Street Talk: Small business optimism

Small and mid-size business owners and executives have an optimistic outlook about the near-term future of their businesses as they ride out inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions and political and geopolitical uncertainties related to the national and local economies, according to the latest PNC semiannual Economic Outlook survey. 

Street Talk: Spring Lake is ready to roll

For its efforts in establishing a more streamlined, predictable development process and overall community development vision, the village of Spring Lake has achieved Redevelopment Ready Communities Essentials designation, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Street Talk: Housing rebound a year away

The U.S. housing market continued to weaken in July with housing starts numbers sliding 9.6% versus the previous month.

Street Talk: Cannabis and Division Avenue’s rebirth

Changes soon will be underway on South Division Avenue in Grand Rapids as Dr. Paul King, M.D., and his team are poised to transform a century-old building into a state-of-the-art cannabis testing facility.

Street Talk: Home, (unavailable) home

Up for Growth, a cross-sector member network committed to solving the nation’s housing shortage and affordability crisis through data-driven research and evidence-based policy, recently released a report that finds housing underproduction in Michigan has reached 87,491 homes, an increase of 311% since 2012, ranking the state 16th in the country in terms of the severity of its housing deficit.

Street Talk: Something for everyone?

It’s not often lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in Lansing — and business groups — can agree on something, but early returns indicate that is the case with the state’s FY23 budget.