December 16, 2019
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State’s economic policy should involve raising household income
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced both an expansion of access to food assistance, cash assistance and state emergency relief, and an increase in the number of workers eligible for overtime pay. She framed her announcements in terms of helping Michigan’s ALICE households. (ALICE is the acronym the Michigan Association of United Ways uses for those […]
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Multitasking, focus and other stuff
I just had a conversation with a sales manager at my last seminar. The gist of it is this: He has so many competing responsibilities it is difficult to spend time with his sales team. Sound familiar? It should. I have heard that idea expressed countless times by executives, sales managers and salespeople. In one […]
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Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-04679 – KAPLAN, Catherine J., 1348 Union NE, April A. Hulst (Ch. 7) 19-04683 – THORNE, Ronald N. III, 10251 Edgerton NE, Rockford, Ralph M. Reisinger (Ch. 13) 19-04686 – MATEO, Patrick F., 1242 Grandville SW, Aaron J. Kenyon (Ch. 13) 19-04692 – GREENE, Lisa A., 11099 Pine Island, Sparta, pro se (Ch. 7) […]
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Change Ups: Airport coin containers raise nearly $4K for homeless
Coin containers installed in the fall of 2018 at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s standard security screening area, as well as at the TSA pre-check point, have netted $3,501 to Mel Trotter Ministries. The program, called “For GRReat Change,” will help provide meals, shelter, and various programs and services to assist men, women and […]
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Street Talk: Manufacturer’s cool concept driven by research
Structural Concepts met an upcoming climate change-reducing standard a cool month ahead of schedule. Muskegon-based Structural Concepts reported Dec. 9 that all of its self-contained refrigerated display cases now comply with upcoming CARB regulations ahead of the planned January implementation date. CARB refers to California’s environmental protection agency, known as the California Air Resources Board. […]
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Nonprofits step in to help homeless youth with health care
Five nonprofit organizations have collaborated to provide wraparound health and wellness services for homeless youth. The Comprehensive Health Initiative is providing services to 400 youth, giving them connections to health care insurance, primary care providers, wellness coping strategies and crisis support therapy. The services are being provided at the nonprofit HQ, a drop-in center for […]
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DGRI offering retail grants
For the past 20 years, the population touching downtown Grand Rapids has doubled, according to Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., but despite the boom in foot traffic, retail options still are scarce. DGRI for over the past year has been offering retail incubation grants to encourage retailers to move downtown. To date, seven business recipients have […]
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Kentwood sues developer over safety issues
The city of Kentwood is taking a metro Detroit developer to court over multiple safety issues at its residential properties. Ashton Woods Apartments in Kentwood is the latest in a string of ordinance violations the city has knocked against Group Five Management Company. The company is based in Farmington Hills and manages several apartment communities […]
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Inside Track: Steimle-App harnesses empathy
Monica Steimle-App once wouldn’t have considered empathy a strength, but being able to look at a project through the eyes of developers, builders, managers and other stakeholders has allowed her to help create lasting growth for Grand Rapids. The executive vice president of real estate development for Rockford Construction has over 18 years of real estate […]
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Right Place exceeds three-year goals
The Right Place concluded its three-year strategic plan well over goals. From 2017-19, the Grand Rapids-based economic development organization spurred 5,192 new and retained jobs, with a goal of 4,200; $309.5 million in new and retained payroll, with a goal of $150 million; and $799.9 million in capital investment, with a goal of $500 million. […]
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Students develop electric swing for girl with special needs
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) A group of engineering students at Grand Valley State University recently delivered a custom-built electric swing to help a girl with special needs. The students built the specialized swing for Alexis Truax when her mother Sarah Truax contacted the School of Engineering after seeing a news clip about students […]
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In the business of rejects
Two brothers who grew up during the age of Amazon are making a living off its excess. Ross Kunzi, 22, who is a 2018 graduate of Grand Valley State University, and his brother, Blake Kunzi, 20, a current student at Grand Rapids Community College, opened Grand Rapids Liquidators on Sept. 14. The store at 5420 […]
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Residential market afflicted by low inventory
Low inventory will continue to plague the residential market in 2020, according to experts. The growth of the housing market in West Michigan has been stymied by low inventory for several years; however, there might be light at the end of the tunnel. According to Lawrence Duthler, president and co-owner of Sun Title Agency in […]
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Manufacturer soars to new heights
Composite Builders is shooting for the moon. The Holland-based fabricator of advanced composite and carbon fiber structures for the mobility sector just signed a deal to become a supplier for Austin, Texas-based Firefly Aerospace Inc., an in-space vehicle company founded in 2017. While further details of the partnership are confidential, Composite Builders will manufacture launch […]
