December 17, 2012
Street Talk: Another use for the fiscal cliff
It’s always about the money. Especially if you happen to be a congressman hanging off the fiscal cliff — or being thrown off. U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, unceremoniously tossed from the House budget committee by House Speaker John Boehner in the first week of December, last week was threatening Boehner’s future leadership opportunities in retribution. […]
A fall off fiscal cliff may reduce future supply of doctors
If Congress and President Obama don’t reach an agreement on government financing before Jan. 1 — the infamous fiscal cliff — the budget for Medicare/Medicaid is slated to be reduced automatically, and that’s where most of the money comes from for the residency training medical school graduates must have in order to become licensed physicians. […]
County accused of being fiscally reckless
The Kent County Taxpayers Alliance has accused the Kent County Board of Commissioners of giving away $1 million worth of assets last summer at a time when the county’s general operating fund was in the red by $955,000. The alliance called the action “reckless.” KCTA added in its press release that the dire financial straits […]
Experience GR launching program to enhance traveler experience
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Ever get to a city, check into your hotel and then think, “Now what?” While some travelers have their phones loaded with helpful travel apps or a copy of “Lonely Planet” tucked inside their backpack, others are looking for suggestions from the city’s locals: Where are the “real” best […]
DDA doubles award to Gilda’s Club
For the second time this year, members of the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority handed out some funny money, and this time it was a larger amount. And for the second time this year, those dollars went to Gilda’s Club for its annual celebration of laughter. Back in February, the DDA awarded the second annual […]
County extends lodging tax and payout to Experience GR
Kent County commissioners unanimously agreed last week to extend the duration of the county’s lodging excise tax ordinance and award Experience Grand Rapids a larger payout for the success the destination marketer has had in raising revenue to the tax fund this year. The commission’s action means the lodging tax will continue to charge hotel […]
Local government jobs still lure new college graduates
LANSING — For recent college grads wanting government jobs, the overall number of opportunities continues to shrink. But there is still hope — local governments in some areas are hiring more staff, according to Phil Gardner, director of research for the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University. “Right now, public sector jobs really […]
-
Experience GR appreciates new county contract
Experience Grand Rapids President Doug Small said he was grateful that Kent County recently approved a new three-year contract with his organization, and he saw that decision as a vote of confidence in what the destination marketer has accomplished over the previous three years. “The marketing on behalf of Kent County is working. There has […]
-
Change Ups: Bowers new dean of Davenport’s College of Business
Davenport University announced it has named Michael R. Bowers dean of the Donald W. Maine College of Business. Bowers previously was academic director for the Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., where he served as professor of entrepreneurship and marketing in the Crummer Graduate School of Business. In his new […]
Public Record
Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds WALKER, Troy R. et al, Fifth Third Mortgage Co., Condo-West Village Development Site, $374,399 LANGBEEN, James R. Jr. et al, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Condo-Riverland Ridge Condominium, $352,000 CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT INC., ChoiceOne Bank, Indian Village No. 4, Lot 197, $240,000 TEITSMA, Marc et al, United Bank […]
Service providers, trusted advisors: How to work with family businesses
Are the majority of your clients family businesses? Chances are, yes. Of all the business entities in West Michigan, 88.8 percent identify as family owned. Family enterprises take many forms — large, small and in every industry. Our community wouldn’t be what it is today without our family businesses planning for the future, giving back […]
The passing of an icon, but his message will live on forever
Zig Ziglar, the iconic motivational speaker of our time, passed away Nov. 28, 2012. In his honor, I am updating and annotating an article I wrote in 1992, after I had the privilege to meet him for the first time and interview him: “I almost failed as a salesman,” said Zig as he stood beside […]
-
CAA buildings drew visitors from all states and Canada last year
A recent report from the Anderson Economic Group shows that the Convention and Arena Authority is a certified player in the local hospitality industry. The report is the first comprehensive look at the role the CAA occupies in drawing people and dollars here since the group was formed a dozen years ago. The East Lansing […]
GR manufacturing economy bucks downward trend
Better! After five lackluster reports, the data collected in November depict a return to modest growth in the Greater Grand Rapids area. New Orders, our index of business improvement, rose significantly to +17 from +6, and the Production index jumped to +21, from -1. Activity in the purchasing offices came back to +8, from -7. […]
-
Inside Track: New CEO is in awe of what Downtown Market will offer
For most of us, Christmas is just around the corner. For Mimi Fritz, it arrived in September. Nearly three months ago to the date, Fritz was chosen to be the first president and CEO of the fledgling Downtown Market being built on Ionia Avenue SE in Grand Rapids. The market’s board of directors, a group […]
Sluggish job growth seen here in 2013
Net job growth in the Grand Rapids region in 2012 is estimated at about 1 percent over last year, and it may not be much better than that in 2013, according to George Erickcek, senior regional analyst at the W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo. Erickcek, making his annual economic forecast for […]
-
Program aims to engage students in environmental science
Earlier this year, as the leaves began to change color and autumn slowly transitioned into winter, a group of 25 students clad in Wellington boots and green-hooded sweatshirts bearing the name Third 90 Network tramped through the great outdoors collecting soil samples, learning about plants and trees, and participating in a research project that could […]
Right to Work paved way for new education funding proposal
Tell me your zip code and I’ll tell you what kind of an education you received, said former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in an interview last winter with Grand Rapids Business Journal editors. “The No. 1 national security and economic issue for America is education.” Real change that would reverse the nation’s continued education […]
-
Cozy concerts provide new venues and revenue for musicians
Musicians have seen the music industry transform drastically during the past two decades. Free music and the increasing cost of touring have resulted in the emergence of many new revenue streams for musicians — and not just big-name, headliner types. One of those emerging opportunities is the house concert. Increasingly, musicians are being booked to […]
-
Economic impact of river restoration coming
Right now, the economic impact that would come from restoring the rapids in the Grand River, as Grand Rapids Whitewater is passionate to do, isn’t fully known. More information, however, may be coming in the near future. What is known now is the restoration would cover 1,310 acres along the river’s downtown path and create […]
Entertainment district could take on a retail identity
Editor’s note: This is the fourth article in a series looking at retail potential in downtown Grand Rapids. The Ionia-Commerce corridor is at downtown Grand Rapids’ southern edge, stretching south from Fulton Street to just past Wealthy Street in much of the Heartside Business District. It has clearly established itself as downtown’s entertainment and restaurant […]
