August 5, 2019
With much of the European economy rooted in turmoil, is West Michigan insulated from a bad recession?
Although the pace of the West Michigan economy is slowing, there still is no evidence that we are about to fall off a cliff, at least for now. According to the data collected in mid-June, New Orders, our index of business improvement, rose to +10, up from May’s +3. The Production index remained steady at […]
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Inside Track: Velie’s next adventure awaits
Carroll Velie is not stopping now. After retiring last year from Grand Rapids-based Varnum LLP, one of the biggest law firms in the state, the 70-year-old is on to her next adventure. Velie is the manager of fundraising events at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. “I have long been impressed with the intentional commitment to […]
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Change Ups: Wierich appointed to separate art positions
Jochen Wierich, who most recently served as senior lecturer of art history at Vanderbilt University, was appointed as Aquinas College’s Lena E. S. Meijer professor in art history. By separate appointment, Wierich also serves as the curator of sculpture and sculpture exhibitions for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Wierich has held teaching positions at […]
Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-02425 – NGUYEN, Richard D. et al, 4707 Torrington, Travis T. Russell (Ch. 13) 19-02429 – HALLIBURTON, Laura L., 508 60th St. SE, Stephen C. Watt (Ch. 7) 19-02437 – MEADE, Kyle R., 3625 Riverbed Lane, Caledonia, Ryan F. Beach (Ch. 7) 19-02438 – ALLARD, Christopher R. & Michele S., 2933 Byron Center, Wyoming, […]
Street Talk: Beer with a view
City Built Brewing Company is taking full advantage of the two-and-a-half months of Michigan summer. Guests to the Monroe North brewery now can enjoy City Built beer outside at a newly licensed parklet facing Monroe Street. The 330-square-foot deck has capacity for 30 people. “We take what we’re doing inside and create what we’re doing […]
Employers question unlimited PTO trend
A recent survey by a national consultancy revealed a small but growing percentage of U.S. employers offer unlimited paid time off — but the practice has its detractors. Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based consulting firm Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) in its 2018 Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey polled 4,241 organizations across the U.S. and found 3% of […]
Bank invests $1.5M in social impact bond
The Strong Beginnings pay-for-success project running in Kent County for the past three years has one very large new backer. Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank — which has a sizable West Michigan footprint — said July 22 it has invested $1.5 million, facilitated through intermediary IFF, to support the Strong Beginnings pay-for-success project. Strong Beginnings is a […]
State task force will track incarceration data
Representatives from Kent County are part of a task force seeking to reform the state’s criminal justice system. Kent County Commissioner Jim Talen and Kent County Road Commissioner Robert VerHeulen were selected to be a part of the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, a 19-member unit co-chaired by Michigan Supreme Court […]
Nonprofit Cybercrime Support Network comes to Kent County
Victims of cyber financial fraud and other cybercrimes in Kent County now have a designated service from which to seek help. Heart of West Michigan United Way is partnering with Cybercrime Support Network to add the service to the county’s 211 hotline, which exists throughout the country to help people connect with social services. Kent […]
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Entrepreneur’s wand invention offers freedom
A car crash in 2006 left Deb Tacoma housebound with a broken back, dependent on others to help her with personal hygiene while she remained immobile in a turtle shell brace. Tacoma tried to find a product on the market that would help her clean hard-to-reach places, such as her feet, back and bottom, but […]
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Amplify GR funds underserved schools
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Students in underserved southeast Grand Rapids schools got to take part in new experiential classroom activities last year. Amplify GR completed the first year of its Scholar Strong mini-grant program, meant to fund instructional projects in the classroom that otherwise would not be possible. The Scholar Strong program also […]
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Partnership provides career track to MDOC jobs
A new program will provide a greater number of job seekers in the Montcalm and Ionia county areas with the education and technical training needed to become a corrections officer. The program is a partnership between West Michigan Works!, the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), Montcalm Community College (MCC) and adult education providers in Montcalm […]
City, Grand Circus partner on coding boot camp
Greater Grand Rapids residents soon will be able to learn the necessary coding skills to enter the growing West Michigan tech industry. The city of Grand Rapids and Grand Circus recently announced the launch of the Grand Circus Front-End After-Hours Bootcamp, which aims to provide individuals with the necessary skill set to enter the workforce […]
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Guiding Light adds fifth recovery house
Guiding Light is planning to open its fifth house for men recovering from drug addiction. With the fifth sober-living Iron House, at 557 Andover St. SE, Guiding Light now is able to house 35 men who have successfully completed the nonprofit’s recovery program. Guiding Light is investing $371,000 in building costs and renovations for the […]
Lake Michigan is king of lakeside real estate locations
Lake Michigan continues to dominate lake home realty. According to Lake Homes Realty’s summer 2019 market report, Lake Michigan is No. 1 in several factors, including the biggest market overall, biggest home market, biggest land market and most listings. The Lake Michigan market is worth $1,311,332,454, which is significantly greater than the second-largest market overall, […]
Eateries show faith in region
West Michigan retail continues to run steady in the second quarter of 2019 with new restaurants being the biggest source of activity real estate experts have recently observed. Colliers International West Michigan observed a continued strong retail demand in main retail corridors across West Michigan. Many retailers desire to be in popular corridors such as […]
New Amway CEO shares digital vision
Having lived the life of a “global nomad” for 25 years, Milind Pant said he didn’t know much about Amway when he accepted his current role as CEO of the direct-selling company — but he was drawn to the “pioneering spirit and large heart” evident in the legacies of founders Rich DeVos and Jay Van […]
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Driverless cars hit city streets
Grand Rapids’ first driverless cars hit the road late last week. Through July 2020, the Grand Rapids Autonomous Vehicle Initiative (AVGR) aims to prove civic infrastructure and operational capabilities of the growing autonomous vehicle market. The city partnered with May Mobility, the manufacturer of the driverless vehicles, as well as Consumers Energy, Faurecia, Gentex, Rockford […]
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Buyback program reduces e-waste
Many K-12 schools do not have a plan for their old and retired electronic devices, but Grand Rapids-based Tech Defenders does. Besides being an electronics repair company, it also is in the business of buying and flipping used electronics for extended use. Garth Stidolph, director of Tech Defenders’ K-12 buyback program, said it’s imperative for […]
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Transformando participants roll past obstacles
The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recently shared a one-year progress report on its Transformando West Michigan program, revealing the need to give Hispanic entrepreneurs additional help removing barriers to their success. The Business Journal on July 24 spoke with Ana Jose, Transformando program manager, and Guillermo Cisneros, executive director of the Hispanic chamber, […]
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Spanish-language radio station gets capital infusion
A 6-year-old Latino-owned digital radio station plans to make a bigger splash in the community with help from a local racial equity lender. La Mejor GR, based at 1945 28th St. SW in Wyoming, recently received a small business loan from Grand Rapids-based Rende Progress Capital (RPC), a racial equity-focused loan fund established in March […]
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Commercial real estate market continues to flourish
The commercial real estate market still is thriving. Colliers International recently released its West Michigan second-quarter report. It revealed all sectors of the commercial market are prosperous. “While national headlines have mentioned a potential slowdown for the second half of 2019, Michigan’s economy remains strong and continues to build on its success,” said Chris Prins, […]
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Experience GR keeps eye on future
If you need short-term gratification in order to thrive at work, don’t go into destination marketing. Experience Grand Rapids exists to promote the area to tourists of all kinds — individuals, parties and group meetings of all sizes — and much of the staff’s work takes months or even years to pay off. Experience GR, […]
Real Estate All-Stars 2019
Special Advertising Section Buying a house is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life, and whom you choose to help you make that purchase is just as important. Knowing who has the experience as the top licensed real estate and mortgage professionals in West Michigan helps buyers and sellers make the […]
