April 1, 2019
Street Talk: Business groups aim higher
Four major business organizations recently announced support for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s goal of increasing the percentage of Michigan’s workforce with a post-high school degree or high-value certificate to 60 percent by the year 2030. Business Leaders for Michigan, the Detroit Regional Chamber, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Association of Michigan […]
Michigan has an ALICE problem, and it doesn’t discriminate
The Michigan Association of United Ways in “ALICE in Michigan: A Financial Hardship Study” reports that in 2017, 43 percent of Michigan households were unable to pay for necessities. That’s up 6 percent from 2010 when the Michigan economy was just starting to grow after the Great Recession. How can that be? In an economy […]
Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-00505 – CARILLO, Sergio J., 2335 McKee SW, Ryan F. Beach (Ch. 7) 19-00512 – KLEEVES, Patti J., 3260 Hillcroft SW, Wyoming, Michael M. Malinowski (Ch. 7) 19-00516 – LAMER, Bonnie L., 813 Merrifield SE, Michael P. Hanrahan (Ch. 13) 19-00519 – DURAN, Joel R., 9585 Eastern SE, Byron Center, Steven M. Bylenga (Ch. […]
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Change Ups: Year-round golf center opens
Students, staff and public golfers have a year-round option to hone their golf skills due to the recent opening of the Ken Janke Sr. Golf Learning Center at Ferris State University’s Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids. The 9,500-square-foot, two-story, $3.5-million facility includes three heated indoor hitting bays, which can be opened to the adjoining […]
Towns and state official disagree on Airbnb proposal
At least one state lawmaker is advocating an end to a municipality’s ability to regulate the short-term rentals of homes often referred to as Airbnbs. Resort communities like South Haven and Traverse City have zoning ordinances regulating how many and where short-term rentals are allowed. Traverse City residents help local authorities enforce such regulations, said […]
Economist: Growth will hold in 2019
A top Huntington Bank economist said the U.S. remains on track to beat its longest economic expansion since World War II. John Augustine, chief investment officer for Huntington Private Bank, presented the 2019 Huntington Economic Outlook for investors and business clients on March 26 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids. Augustine […]
Lawmakers look to reform bail system
Michigan lawmakers proposed a bill package to reform the cash bail system in the state. In March, a 10-bill package was introduced in the state legislature, which was co-sponsored by a number of bipartisan members, including Rep. David LaGrand, D-Grand Rapids, which would reform the bailing system to incorporate personal recognizance bonds, a noncash bond. […]
Gov. Whitmer emphasizes agriculture in state budget proposal
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled her Fiscal Year 2020 executive budget recommendation earlier this month. The governor’s budget recommendation of $60.2 billion covers roads, drinking water and wages, but she also has placed an emphasis on growing the state’s second-largest industry: agriculture. Whitmer is proposing $109.8 million for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development […]
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Lawmakers consider tax increase on cigarettes, vaping products
Some lawmakers are pushing to tax vape pens and e-cigarettes just like cigarettes in hopes of discouraging teens from using them. Manufacturers are pushing back, saying the devices are healthier alternatives to smoking cigarettes. Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids, recently introduced a bill to tax tobacco products. It would increase that tax on cigarettes by […]
Partnership aims to curb growing opioid epidemic
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) In an effort to curb the advancing opioid epidemic in the state, four institutions are teaming up to train more physicians to become addiction medicine specialists. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration supported a $1.5-million grant through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services opioid response […]
Technology company offers spinoff business
After building and designing software, users must continually update it. That was what Brian Anderson and Marty Balkema aimed to do when they launched LOFT last year. The duo are co-founders of Augusto Digital, which specializes in building and designing custom software solutions for businesses. After working on building software for different companies, businesses and […]
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Inside Track: Winn keeps roots firmly planted in GR
The Grand Rapids economy has fluctuated through the eras, and the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel has been there for everything since 1913. Rick Winn said he believes the Amway Grand provided an early spark for the latest growth in downtown Grand Rapids, serving as a local landmark and one of the only meeting spaces for […]
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WMU grad student collects recycling data for Rubbermaid
Findings from research led by a Western Michigan University graduate student are being used to guide Newell Brands and its Rubbermaid Commercial Products brand through the recycling arena. Joshua Turske answered the post by Newell Brands, which has a location on WMU's Business Technology and Research Park, and wanted data to answer questions about placement […]
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Modular Transportation adapts to changing landscape
Calder Plaza’s iconic sculpture, La Grande Vitesse, turns 50 this year, but coincidentally, the company responsible for hauling its parts to where it stands today also will be celebrating 50 years in business. Grand Rapids-based Modular Transportation was founded in 1969. Founder Robert Stouten originally got into the trucking industry after serving in the U.S. […]
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Sparta’s ChoiceOne Bank doubling in size
ChoiceOne CEO Kelly Potes said the two main benefits customers will get from a merger with County Bank Corp. are bigger loan sizes and the addition of trust services. Sparta-based holding company ChoiceOne Financial Services said last week that it signed a definitive merger agreement with Lapeer-based County. The two parties will combine into one […]
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Urbaneer reveals its tiny homes model
Urbaneer has unveiled a new frontier into its “small space living” concept. The company originally founded by Bruce Thompson in 2014 has taken off into the single-family home market with the unveiling of a new style of home that can address the housing needs of the “missing middle.” Early last week, Thompson and his wife […]
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Wolverine tannery report shows widespread pollution
A new report presented to the public last week paints a bleak picture of the pollution spreading from Wolverine Worldwide’s former leather tannery site. Under an administrative order by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Rockford-based maker of footwear and apparel in 2018 commissioned Grand Rapids-based Rose & Westra, a division of GZA GeoEnvironmental, to […]
From Brexit to MI-Exit
With the controversy over the United Kingdom’s decision to exit the European Union, it begs the question, “What would happen if a state chose to exit the USA?” The U.K. has a land area of 93,628 square miles and a population of just over 66 million. In comparison, California (163,696 square miles) has almost 40 […]
