Archives

Regional tech industry welcomes Switch

Michigan could be on its way to becoming a leader in the new economy. Following the approval of legislation last week that “evens the playing...

Inside Track: Nothing is casual about Floyd’s passion for restaurant industry

Joe Floyd likes a challenging restaurant guest. Floyd, the new director of chef-casual dining at Meritage Hospitality Group, picked a career in restaurants when he...

Maker of medical models sees many opportunities for growth

While 2009 was an awful year for many West Michigan businesses, Jim TenBrink and Joel Zylstra saw it as their window of opportunity for...

Training program readies workers for manufacturing careers

“Without tool-and-die makers and machinists to build things, our country is going to be in trouble,” said Rob Willsea, recruiting and sales manager for...

Brewery keeps flow going

Brewery Vivant celebrated its fifth anniversary this past weekend, but Kris and Jason Spaulding aren’t looking in their rearview mirrors. Since opening Dec. 20, 2010,...

Assure a seat at the table for the community ‘doers,’ not just the donors

Grand Rapids Business Journal made a point last week of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce advancements in planning and programs for increasingly...

Real estate market is promising, except the parts that aren’t

West Michigan and Metro Detroit should continue to see excellent real estate opportunities next year. Aside from those submarkets, however, real estate professionals are less...

Auto suppliers are enjoying an industry-wide resurgence

(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Since the Great Recession, the auto industry has been on an upswing, a positive change that’s been more...

Be in the know this holiday giving season

While we donate to charity year-round, the holidays present even more opportunities to support worthy nonprofit organizations — but take a minute before you...

Find the balance between objective and subjective messages

When I was engaged in small business advocacy with the Small Business Association of Michigan and the National Small Business Association, I was consistently...

Federal Reserve ends an era of near-zero rates

The Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Open Market Committee officially raised the target range for the federal funds rate from 0.25 percent to 0.50 percent...

They are the behind-the-scenes film stars

Almost every industry has a tedious, thankless task that makes anyone stuck doing it dream of inventing a better way. For Luke DeBoer, that task...

City adopts GR Forward amendment

After nearly two years of preparation and public review, city commissioners last week adopted the GR Forward plan as an amendment to the city’s...

Community foundation’s LGBT fund issues first grant

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation recently announced its Our LGBT Fund has awarded its first grant — worth $20,000 — to benefit Safe and...

City’s Butterworth Solar Project receives final approval

City commissioners gave final approval last week to the Butterworth Solar Project, a large-scale solar array that is planned for the old Butterworth landfill...

Chamber receives $50K grant

One mission to develop minority businesses in Grand Rapids is $50,000 richer. The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced it has received a...

Street Talk: The $1 million question

A team of Grand Valley State University students and alumni is competing to change the world with their ideas and win $1 million in...

A goal is a dream with a plan — and other fairy tales

My mother never went to Europe. She talked about it, dreamed about it — even opened a travel agency at age 55. She never...

Public Record

MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds SCHAMEL, Cynthia A. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Condo-Windcliff Estates, $204,827 YOUNG, Dwaine A. et al,...

Growth in region’s industrial economy slows to a crawl

Slow growth is still the best description of the West Michigan economy, according to the data and comments collected in the last two weeks...