April 25, 2016
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Group pushes repeal of restaurant smoking ban
LANSING — A group of Michigan residents and businesses is pushing to repeal a state law forbidding smoking in restaurants. Nearly 90 percent of Michigan residents in an online poll want to allow business owners to decide if they want to allow smoking, according to the group that is pushing to repeal the 2010 prohibition […]
Retailers’ sales and forecasts remain positive for spring
Michigan retailers’ sales and forecasts remained positive in March while slipping only slightly from the previous month, according to the latest Michigan Retail Index survey, a joint project of Michigan Retailers Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The survey found 63 percent of retail businesses reported March sales were better (43 percent) or […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds FARRANT, Michael E. et al, Macatawa Bank, Johnson Estates No. 10, Lot 248, $239,000 CRUZ, Graciela S. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Ada Woods No. 4, Lot 57, $312,000 GASPER, Jona et al, Northern Mortgage Services, Bailey's Grove No. 17, Lot 493, $221,500 MIKRUT, […]
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Inside Track: Long and varied career leaves Lemley something to offer students
Paul Lemley has worked on so many different kinds of projects throughout his life, people often ask, “Wait, are you 100 years old?” Usually, he just laughs and says, “Yes.” He recognizes, however, that, at 53, he has had experiences many others in the construction industry haven’t, so he’s doing his best to mentor students […]
Street Talk: Down the drain
Gov. Rick Snyder’s approval ratings plummeted in the wake of the Flint water crisis, and Michiganders now consider city infrastructure the state’s biggest problem, according to Michigan State University’s latest State of the State Survey. Snyder received a “poor” job-performance rating from 44 percent of respondents in the winter survey, up sharply from 21 percent […]
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‘Kitchen takeover’ business serves up fun
Some of Ben Price’s favorite cooking moments are when he can change someone’s mind about a food they used to dislike. One time a woman told him, “I hate Brussels sprouts and these are delicious.” “Those are the moments I love,” he said. “My favorite thing to cook for people is vegetables. What makes me […]
County moves agribusiness to forefront
Already contributing more than $230 million in agricultural products to Michigan, Kent County now has an idea of how to better utilize its agribusiness. The Kent County Board of Commissioners recently adopted the final report by the Agribusiness Community Work Group, which was started in May 2014 to identify, evaluate and recommend opportunities to support, […]
Parking shift begins in Arena South district
Businesses in downtown’s Arena South district already are being asked to relocate parking as a result of the newly announced Loeks Studio C! movie theater and 616 development project. The mixed-use project, which includes a nine-screen movie theater, residential units, retail space, community space and a parking ramp, will be constructed on the Area 4 […]
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Hospital program helps veterans with care — and aftercare
A West Michigan hospital group has launched a program to help veterans both during their stay and following their release. In the fall, Spectrum Health started its Veteran Support Services program with the goal of identifying, recognizing and advocating for veteran patients. Danielle Montag, Veteran Support Services patient experience associate, said the program is intended […]
Insurer invests $3M in medication therapy management
An insurer is investing $3 million this year in medication therapy management following a successful pilot program with its Medicare members. Priority Health announced earlier this month the success of its Medication Therapy Management program, or MTM, which saw a cost savings of $60 per member/per month over a 12-month period and $66 per member/per […]
State addresses dearth of IT workers
LANSING — A shortage of qualified information technology workers is hurting Michigan businesses, experts say. Information technology encompasses computer programming and data management in industries as diverse as health care and auto manufacturing, said Chris Knapp, the IT and media talent director for the state’s Workforce Development Agency. “IT is embedded in just about every […]
Kalamazoo concrete company solidifies its presence in Greater Grand Rapids
A Kalamazoo-based concrete company is investing in its Grand Rapids operations, with a new fleet of ready-mix trucks, a Rockford plant and a second concrete batching plant at its Byron Center location. A specialty grinder from Italy also has been purchased for the company’s facility in Wyoming. The investments will add significantly to Consumers Concrete’s […]
GRPS plans to improve on its ‘solid foundation’
It’s been five years since Teresa Weatherall Neal assumed the office of superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools, and in that time, she’s overseen some major changes. In her fifth State of Our Schools address on Tuesday, Neal revisited those changes, highlighting the success of the GRPS Transformation Plan and other initiatives in creating a […]
It’s not the company, it’s the people in the company: It’s you
When you walk into someone’s place of business to shop or buy something, what are you expecting? Most people (you and me included) expect someone friendly, someone helpful when you need them, to be served in a timely manner, to be given fair value, to be presented with a quality product, to make the process […]
Change Ups: Bethany manager has ties with agency
Bethany Christian Services’ new regional marketing manager, MeiLi Wieringa, has personal ties with the Grand Rapids-based global nonprofit adoption, child welfare and family preservation agency. Bethany helped assist Wieringa’s family with her adoption from South Korea. Wieringa has worked in Japan and Switzerland and is a brand ambassador for the Van Andel Institute J-Board. Her […]
Contractors ought to take notice of construction liens
West Michigan's building boom continues. In Grand Rapids, each month seems to provide a new medical building to the north of the Center City area or a new office tower to the south. There will also be barrel after barrel of beer to be consumed once another brewmaster completes a production facility and parking structure […]
Talent attraction should be top priority
In my last post we looked at data on how young professionals have far different preferences in housing than previous generations of recent college graduates. Many prefer high-density, high-amenity, central-city downtowns, and to rent rather than buy. It’s obvious why it’s in the interest of central cities like Grand Rapids to respond to this growing […]
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Vander Mill’s new GR facility features taste and capacity
Paul Vander Heide is excited about his culinary team at the newly opened Grand Rapids location of Vander Mill Cider. The owner of the cider company that began in Spring Lake in 2006 wanted to bring good food to his taproom at the new $4.3 million production facility at 505 Ball Ave. NE, but he […]
Firms devour downtown office space
Class A office space is at its lowest vacancy rates in more than seven years, according to the most recent market reports from NAI Wisinski of West Michigan. The real estate firm released its first quarter market reports earlier this month that showed the downtown vacancy for Class A office space dropped from 6.2 percent […]
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Coppercraft’s Holland roots anchor its distribution plans
After nearly three years of production, Coppercraft Distillery is truly feeling it’s an integral part of the Holland community. For the third year in a row, Coppercraft will be the official spirit of the iconic Tulip Time Festival, complete with an 11-restaurant tour that will include a specialty rum cocktail: the Copper Blossom. Becoming involved […]
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There are big plans for tiny houses
Downtown living is the talk of Grand Rapids, but local firm Urbaneer is banking on another mode of living to have national appeal. The company has made a name for itself in Michigan with its micro-apartments and other adaptable arrangements for health care, senior and student living. Now, Urbaneer is ready to build its first […]
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Field & Fire prepares North Monroe location
When Field & Fire opened in the brand-new Downtown Market in 2013, Shelby and Julie Kibler imagined 90 percent of their revenue would come from retail sales. In reality, the husband and wife team has experienced a split of about 50-50 between retail sales and wholesale accounts, which now number 25 across the city. The […]
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Firm prepares for legalization of marijuana in Michigan
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) As the movement to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes across the country hurtles forward, it seems inevitable that one day, the Mitten State will have to take on the issue. If and when that day comes, hopeful entrepreneurs in West Michigan already will have resources available to them to […]
