August 28, 2017
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Mayor Bliss urges community unity
Affordable housing, racial equity and improving police and community relations are at the top of the agenda for Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. Bliss delivered a de facto “state of the city” update to Rotary Club of Grand Rapids members last week in which she discussed the initiatives to improve in those areas, as well […]
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Muskegon a new ‘deconstruction hub’?
Muskegon once was called the “Lumber Queen of the World.” It’s been called “the Port City” and the “Riviera of the Midwest.” Now, city officials hope to add “Deconstruction Hub of the Great Lakes” to the city’s titles. In the mid-1880s — the peak of the lumbering era — Muskegon was a bustling hub for […]
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Study finds driving trends are shifting gears
Where are Americans driving? Researchers from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute analyzed data from the Federal Highway Administration, and the results are in: City driving is rising, and it’s risen high. Researchers Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak found a 33-percent rise in city driving over the past 17 years. This mirrors a 19-percent […]
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Is that business lunch of yours tax deductible?
I am old enough to remember the banter about three-martini business lunches and the ability for a business to claim a deduction for such lunches for tax return purposes. This point in time was of course when I had more hair, less grey and seemingly had more energy. The three-martini lunch, along with other deductions […]
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Change Ups: Fifth Third pledges $25,000 to new stadium
The Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium project received a $25,000 pledge from Fifth Third Bank, according to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. The new waterfront stadium will be located in the heart of Grand Haven along the shore of the Grand River leading out to Lake Michigan. The facility will have a tiered grass seating, […]
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Why hire an athlete? Because they know how to score!
Everyone wants to hire the best person for the job. I do, too. Here’s a concept: Hire an athlete. It may help you as an employer to make the right choice, or at least a better choice. And it’s a reality check if you’re an individual striving for a career win. If you’re a salesperson […]
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Entrepreneurial investments bolster Grand Rapids’ ‘fastest growing economy’
Despite the political quibbles in Lansing about Michigan Venture Capital Association, seeded by tax vouchers, the nonprofit group’s 2017 West Michigan Entrepreneurial study offers reason for staying power — and a very impressive “show” by Grand Rapids area entrepreneurs. The Business Journal reports on the growth numbers, all of which provide boasting rights and further […]
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Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds SCHONDELMAYER, Chad et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Crystal Springs Plat No. 3, Lot 136, $315,875 KIRBY, Catherine J. et al, Quicken Loans, Walker, 2-7-12, $245,600 DAY, Eric G. et al, ChoiceOne Bank, Condo-Knockadoon Condominiums, $316,033 LOWE, Nathan et al, AmeriFirst Financial Corp., Eastwood Plat, […]
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Retailers remain optimistic despite summer sales dip
Michigan retailers reported a slight drop in sales activity for July compared to the previous month, but they’re optimistic the next three months will be better, according to the Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of Michigan Retailers Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Just less than half — 49 percent — of […]
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Vibrant central cities, universities key to attracting and retaining talent
Pittsburgh is viewed by many as Exhibit A for how so-called Rust Belt regions can return to prosperity. The basic recipe: make the transition from a factory-driven to a knowledge-driven economy largely by retaining and attracting talent. The New York Times — in the Fashion and Style section of all places — provides an update […]
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Law firm enlists U-M for diversity research
As any proponent of evidence-based decision-making knows, one of the first steps to setting smart goals is gathering data about existing conditions. Attorneys call this “discovery.” Members of Detroit-based law firm Dickinson Wright — which has a Grand Rapids office — long ago made a commitment to diversity and inclusion, not only in recruitment, hiring […]
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Startups are thriving in West Michigan
A recent report by the Michigan Venture Capital Association indicates West Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is as healthy as it’s ever been. The MVCA’s 2017 West Michigan Entrepreneurial study revealed that in the past three years, there has been a 20 percent increase in the number of startups in West Michigan, comprising the Grand Rapids, Holland […]
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Inside Track: Furthering minority ownership
The advancement of minority entrepreneurship as an evolving business environment drives most of the work of Jim Roberts. The owner of Jim Roberts Enterprises, LLC, draws on his own experience as a minority and his professional career as an investor and consultant to further the cause of minority business. Roberts received his bachelor’s of science […]
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Partners join forces to diversify tech
Jonathan Jelks and Matt Visser have joined the might of their respective programs to help provide more technology career opportunities for minorities. Jelks is co-founder with A.J. Hills of The Midwest Tech Project, a program that teaches technological skills to African-American and Latino Grand Rapids Public Schools students. Visser is director of The Factory’s coLearning […]
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Muskegon ‘turns corner’ with $1B in development
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Major new developments are underway along the Muskegon Lakeshore. Over $1 billion is being invested in public spaces, new buildings and renovation projects. Several projects already have been completed, but many more are in development. “A lot of people are saying 2017 has been the year that Muskegon has […]
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Grand Castle nears completion
Since the project broke ground on July 29, 2016, Roger Lucas’ vision of building a “castle” has taken on an almost mythic quality. The nearly completed Grand Castle apartment complex looks as if it were taken straight from the pages of an Arthurian legend and dropped into Grandville. As the owner of Land and Company […]
