August 26, 2013
Local college, university enrollment increases noted
Students are descending on local college campuses, some in record number. Several West Michigan colleges are anticipating increased enrollment in incoming freshman classes and most are offering new programs of study. Additionally, schools shared information about what areas students are arriving from and how this year’s numbers compare to 2012-2013. Final enrollment numbers will not […]
Davenport unveils new grad programs
The Donald W. Maine College of Business at Davenport University is launching a trio of new master’s programs this semester. The first is a Master of Management program. It will be available at the Peter C. Cook Center in downtown Grand Rapids as well as at its new Lansing campus, in Livonia and online. The […]
GRCC renames Bostwick Commons for Juan Olivarez
A Grand Rapids Community College space will bear the name of Aquinas College’s president. Bostwick Commons, the circular courtyard that serves as a connecter between the downtown campus’s main building and Student Center at the corner of Bostwick Avenue and Fountain Street, will soon be renamed the Dr. Juan R Olivarez Student Plaza, in honor […]
GVSU offers international partnerships
The engineering and computing schools at Grand Valley State University have gone international. Students now have an opportunity to study abroad and do internships at overseas companies while they earn their degrees, through two new international partnerships created by the university. The GVSU Padnos College of Engineering and Computing has entered into agreements with Zurich […]
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Change Ups: Varnum attorney honored for excellence
Michigan Lawyers Weekly has recognized Varnum attorney April Sawhill as one of the 2013 Women in the Law. The honor is awarded to those who exhibit excellence in the practice of law, are inspiring and accomplished leaders, serve as mentors to other women and contribute significant time to volunteerism or pro bono work. Among Sawhill’s […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds PEPIN, Cesar et al, Fifth Third Mortgage, Johnson Estates No. 10, Lot 254, $275,500 VANDERVEEN, Kaykyn et al, 3100 Plainfield, Grand Rapids, 5-7-11, $254,828.4 HALL, Frank C. Iv et al, North American Savings Bank, Condo-Dix Farm, $417,000 CARPENTER, Christin et al, Amerifirst Financial Corp., Spencer […]
Federal court is ‘foggy’ on patent software issues
In 1998, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which hears all appeals in patent matters, reversed a long-standing precedent that inventions for “methods of doing business” are not patentable. In State Street Bank and Trust Company v. Signature Financial Group Inc., the Federal Circuit Court held that a business method invention is patentable […]
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Small tells county commissioners they’re going to like the numbers
When Experience Grand Rapids President Doug Small came before county commissioners last week to update them on how his organization did last year, he immediately got their attention. “I think you’re going to be pretty pleased with the numbers,” Small said right off the bat. First came the 2012 convention sales results. Last year, Small […]
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Street Talk: Hospital ratings — something’s better than nothing
Priority Health held a media event last week to promote its new contract with Healthcare Blue Book of Brentwood, Tenn., allowing it to begin publishing this fall localized health care costs and indications of the quality of service for more than 200 procedures at specific hospitals. We are told the online publication for Priority Health […]
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Mercy Health Muskegon among first to offer new implant for chronic sinusitis
Dr. Paul E. Lomeo, a physician at Mercy Health Muskegon, is among the first in the United States to offer patients with chronic sinusitis the Propel mometasone furoate implant that is clinically proven to improve the results of surgery for chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis is a condition in which patients’ sinuses become swollen and inflamed, […]
Microloan program driving small business growth
The Business Journal reported in July that Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women is tripling its microloan program from the $200,000 in Small Business Administration funds it had available last year to $600,000 going into this year. GROW announced late last week it is now accepting applications for the funding. GROW is a Small Business Administration […]
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Local colleges deal with changing national student loan rates
West Michigan students are safe for now, but local colleges are still uncertain about the future of financial aid legislation. After congressional inaction to re-enact the legislation, the federal limit on student loan interest reverted to market rates. On Aug. 9, President Obama signed a bill into law restoring lower interest rates on student loans […]
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Local governments spending more on streets
A Grand Valley Metro Council survey explains why local public officials are looking for new ways to pay for street and road work. “Public Act 51 is not keeping up with demand for fiscal support of our road system, and local units are being called upon to provide greater local general fund support for road […]
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Transferring technology from academia to business
Many universities, especially the big research universities like the University of Michigan, are the “idea factories” in every state, according to J. Kevin McCurren. “What we want to do is get those ideas into the public venue,” he added, to commercialize them. Universities like to call that “technology transfer.” Grand Valley State University isn’t in […]
Davenport looking to enhance its entrepreneurial programs
It’s no secret Grand Rapids is proudly cultivating an entrepreneurial culture. Davenport University is watering those seeds by enhancing its programs available to entrepreneurs, said Michael Bowers, dean of the Davenport Donald W. Maine College of Business. University officials are discussing many changes to the curriculum, faculty and even facilities in order to keep the […]
Transition plans from recession, recovery to change are essential
Many organizations during the recent downturn were focused only on immediate survival. Among the changes in the business climate over the last eight or so years is aligning skills and experience to support the new business operation strategies in a climate of transition. Organizations often have given little attention to how the business climate affected […]
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Downtown developers move into fringe neighborhoods
A flurry of downtown housing projects have streamed across the news the past few months, led by major apartment-complex developments from Brookstone Capital, Orion Construction, Rockford Construction and 616 Development. “The speed at which projects are coming before us is quite remarkable,” said Kayem Dunn, vice chairwoman of the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority. At […]
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Inside Track: Lifelong career reflects growing interest in Oriental medicine
Craig Houchen was a teenager, already very interested in Asian martial arts and “into everything Asian,” when his mother’s struggle to quit smoking was finally won — and how it happened was a major factor in his decision regarding his future career. It was acupuncture that helped her kick the habit, and today, Craig Houchen, […]
Capital gain rules benefit family businesses and investors
Once known as “Furniture City” and now “Beer City USA,” Grand Rapids has long been a home to innovation and entrepreneurs. Want to create a supermarket and see it spread to more than 190 stores in five states, or turn cleaning products into a global enterprise? Grand Rapids might be just the place for your […]
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Over a barrel
Beer geeks may envy Jason Heystek’s job. He’s the head cellar operator at Founders Brewing Co. and one of his tasks is ensuring the quality of Kentucky Breakfast Stout. To do that, he samples each barrel of the beer that has been ranked one of the top beers in the world. “It sounds really great […]
The mark of a historic chapter in city history
The Monroe Center story on page 3 provides an instant flashback for anyone over the age of 30: “Not that long ago, downtown’s main street was made up of vacant buildings and empty storefronts. That landscape began to change when Rockford Construction Co. transformed the former Peck Drugstore building at Monroe Center and Division Avenue […]
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Monroe Center is nearly rebuilt
Not that long ago, downtown’s main street was made up of vacant buildings and empty storefronts. That landscape began to change when Rockford Construction Co. transformed the former Peck Drugstore building at Monroe Center and Division Avenue about 15 years ago into what is now MoDiv. With 616 Development close to finishing its restoration of […]
GRPS, Public Museum and Kendall team up to create a school
Grand Rapids Public Museum recently began a campaign to remind Grand Rapids residents that the museum’s extensive collection of artifacts belongs to them. Included in the campaign is a greater opportunity for museum members to view its archives, which includes more than 250,000 scientific, cultural and historical artifacts. The museum has acknowledged that it has […]
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Historic downtown building is available
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) One of downtown’s oldest and most unique buildings has gone into receivership and is being marketed by a real estate management firm and turnaround consultant headquartered in Grand Rapids on behalf of the Indiana-based mortgage holder. First Financial Bank, formerly Irwin Union Bank and Trust, foreclosed on the Pike […]
