December 16, 2013
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Prediction: GR employment will go up 2.6 percent in 2014
Despite his worries about consumer confidence throughout the U.S., George Erickcek delivered an optimistic outlook for the Grand Rapids region this year at his annual presentation on the economy and employment. Erickcek, an economist and senior regional analyst at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, has delivered his analysis and predictions in Grand Rapids every […]
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Land bank board adopts 2014 budget
The Kent County Land Bank Authority recently adopted its operating and development budget for next year, and the 2014 spending plan is less than this year’s. The land bank’s total operating expenses for next year are expected to be $469,531 or about $20,000 lower than its 2013 expenditures. Personnel expenses for the bank’s four staff […]
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Kent panel sets 2014 leadership positions
There are a few changes in the 2014 leadership roles for the Kent County Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Dan Koorndyk will continue as chairman for 2014, and Commissioner Jim Saalfeld will retain his post as vice chairman of the board. Saalfeld will replace Commissioner Harold Voorhees as chairman of the county’s Finance Committee, which will […]
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County parks department pulls off another deal
Thirty-two acres of state-owned land the Kent County Parks Department has maintained for the past 17 years may soon become part of the countywide park system. County commissioners agreed last week to let Parks Director Roger Sabine proceed with the purchase of those acres, which are adjacent to the county’s Rogue River Park. Sabine will […]
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Detroit bankruptcy puts its art collection in peril
Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr has not taken the option of selling artwork from the Detroit Institute of Art’s prominent collection off the table, though many in the city and the state have vowed to fight any attempt at selling the museum’s works, including Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. Schuette issued a formal opinion in […]
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Airports expect fewer travel snarls during holidays
LANSING — Travel becomes more frustrating on the day before major holidays, the U.S. Travel Association warns, but airport officials in Detroit and Grand Rapids aren’t concerned. An association report predicts that in the next 15 years, more than half of the world’s largest airports will face that problem due to increases in travelers. The […]
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Change Ups: O-A-K opens branch office
Construction firm Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. has opened a new branch office at 161 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 102, Kalamazoo. O-A-K oversaw the 1,800-square-foot build-out for the new space and completed the bulk of architectural design work in-house. The space is within the historic Haymarket Building and features an open-concept work space, high-end conference room with a […]
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Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds RESTAU, Randi et al, Educational Community Credit Union, Jasonville Farms Sub. No. 3, Lot 61, $213,750 VANOEFFELEN, Timothy et al, USAA Federal Savings Bank, Alpine Twp., 33-8-12, $313,600 DAVIS, Joseph D. et al, Northern Mortgage Services, Sweetgrass Ridge, Lot 13, $216,800 DWAIKAT, Sameh F. et […]
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Santa Claus and Google: the same or just a coincidence?
After nearly 60 years of a wavering belief in Santa Claus, I have come to a major AHA! Santa Claus is actually Google. Think about it: Google knows when you're sleeping. Google knows when you're awake. Google knows if you're bad. Google knows when you're good. Google has lists and checks them twice. Google knows […]
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Street Talk: And there were benefits for all — except for some
What’s the old saying? It’s better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a (dummy) than open your mouth and prove it? Apparently, Dave Agema needs a history lesson. According to the Associated Press, the GOP Committeeman last week made a statement that was construed as meaning gay people are seeking […]
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City gets partnership agreement with county
There doesn’t appear to be a loser in this three-way deal. The Grand Rapids Economic Development Corp. will get the partnership agreement it proposed. Kent County will get its property-tax revenue from the project. And LCL Development LLC will likely get the tax break it is seeking in return for making a big investment in […]
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New farmers market sprouting in downtown Muskegon
With the help of donations from more than 100 businesses and a grant of more than $700,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the city of Muskegon is finally getting a new farmers market. “The target date for opening is May 1, 2014,” said Steve Novak, president of T4 Group, a Muskegon construction company that […]
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Expect slow growth for the foreseeable future
Slow growth. That’s the ongoing word on the West Michigan economy, according to the data collected for November. As the year winds down, our index of business improvement, which we call New Orders, remained virtually unchanged at +16, up from +15. The Production index remained unchanged at +13. Fortunately, the Employment index resumed its pattern […]
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Where you live affects your opportunities
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) LANSING — Access to better economic opportunities depends largely on your Michigan ZIP code, according to Opportunity Nation, a Washington, D.C.-based coalition that researches economic issues. A band of lower-opportunity counties stretches from Muskegon County by Lake Michigan northeast to Oscoda County, along with islands of higher-opportunity ones in […]
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Muskegon hotels expect a busy 2014
A variety of things that roll — from bicycle wheels to bowling balls — are expected to keep Muskegon County hotels busy throughout 2014. The county’s hotel/motel industry was relatively flat during 2013, judging by the county room tax collections, according to Bob Lukens, community development director at the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau. […]
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In business, as in farming, there are certain irrefutable truths
We are going through another one of those periods where we are being told there is a new and better way to do things financially. During the dotcom bust, we were told profits were not necessary for a successful company. Billions were lost by investors. Then there was the mortgage crisis. We were told the […]
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Inside Track: Shires relishes role in expanding city’s culture
Many people associate history with boring textbooks that require them to memorize a laundry list of dates, places and names they’ll eventually forget. Then there’s Chris Shires. “I have a passion for history,” said Shires. “I grew up as an only child on the eastern shore of Maryland. My family vacationed at Chesapeake Bay each […]
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Cascade Engineering invests in people with triple bottom line approach
Since its beginnings 40 years ago, Cascade Engineering has operated on the belief that it could be a successful business and good to its employees at the same time. Essentially, the company has always been a “triple bottom line” business, said Kenyatta Brame, newly named executive vice president. “Focusing on people is something we’ve done […]
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Gordon Food Service not surprised by Sysco merger
The giant merger between Sysco and US Foods that had the business world buzzing last week was not unexpected by officials at Wyoming-based Gordon Food Service. “The food service distributor landscape has been changing significantly over the past 10 years with industry consolidation. Within that time frame, over 100 independent distributors have been acquired,” said […]
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Zoo operations will officially change hands
In a few weeks Kent County will no longer operate John Ball Zoo and Park, after doing so for 26 years. Kent County commissioners ratified a potential 60-year and $120 million lease and operating agreement last week with the new John Ball Zoo Corp. to handle daily operations of both facilities beginning Jan. 1. The […]
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Can an employer really just drop employee benefits?
It’s no secret employers and employees alike are anxious about the Affordable Care Act. Timelines, decision trees, minimum benefit requirements, enough new paper notices to destroy an entire rain forest — you name it, there is quite a bit out there that employers are forced to deal with. Employees, on the other hand, are being […]
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Brookstone Capital reimbursement plan is approved
The brownfield reimbursement plan for a promising $40 million downtown development has been approved. The Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority unanimously agreed recently to ratify a request from Brookstone Capital for its 20 East Fulton project, a mixed-use development that offers residential and commercial uses along with a parking ramp at the corner of Fulton […]
